http://www.protect-no-fault.com

http://www.michigancatastrophic.com/

www.healthpartnersinc.com

CONSUMER GROUPS

• Brain Injury Association of Michigan
• Disability Advocates of Kent County
• Disability Network of Michigan
• Michigan Citizen Action
• Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America
• Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service
• Michigan State AFL-CIO
• UAW Michigan CAP

MEDICAL GROUPS

• Michigan Brain Injury Providers Council
• Michigan College of Emergency Physicians
• Michigan Health & Hospital Association
• Michigan Home Health Association
• Michigan Nurses Association
• Michigan Orthopedic Society
• Michigan Orthotics and Prosthetics Association
• Michigan Osteopathic Association
• Michigan Rehabilitation Association

Take the time to ask questions. Learn about the programs that are helping so many accident victims access the care and rehabilitative therapies necessary to continue to live as “normal” a life as possible after a life-altering auto accident. It’s likely you’ll find that those individuals, their families and loved ones will tell you that they would never be able to access the necessary care to live as happily or productively as possible without the current Michigan No-Fault Insurance benefits.

Write to your state legislators and let them know how you feel. If enough of us express that we are NOT in support of these bills we have a much better chance of protecting our existing No-Fault model.

• By winning several important court decisions which have resulted in a substantial loss of rights for injured people; and
• By proposing legislation that would reduce insurance benefits, adopt managed care, impose medical fee schedules, and allow insurance companies to write polices that would pay for only a fraction of the medical expenses suffered by catastrophically injured people.

The need to vigorously oppose these efforts by the insurance company is what led to the creation of CPAN (the Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault) in 2003.  CPAN is fighting on behalf of injured people and healthcare providers throughout our state to keep our model no-fault system intact.”

There are currently two bills that are up for review HB6094 and HB6095. According to experts who strongly oppose these bills, HB6094 would allow drivers to purchase as little as $50,000 in Personal Injury Protection Benefits. The result of that choice will be bankruptcy due to excessive medical bills and would, in effect, create a cost shift to Medicaid which will cost taxpayers more because of the need to raise taxes. Bankruptcy would also result from the liability suffered if you are the “at fault” driver.

The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, which is funded by drivers for drivers, with NO contributions from the insurance industry spends approximately 700 Million each year for the services needed for catastrophically injured Michigan citizens. Why allow a cost shift by the very profitable insurance industry onto taxpayers via Medicaid??

The question is this: Unlimited Medical Benefits, as we have known for 37 years, or a $50,000 limit?? Would you want the bankruptcy that would surely follow? How about very limited benefits under Medicaid; which is already breaking the state budget? If you are paralyzed, you often need 24 hour care. Medicaid does not provide that. This bill would inevitably, cost nearly 1 million healthcare jobs.

Michigan drivers are entitled to receive FULL DISCLOSURE at the point of sale for an insurance policy, elaborating on the need for full coverage and the risks associated with limited coverage.

In short- HB6094 promises to raise taxes, cost healthcare jobs, reduce access to medical care, increase insurance premiums due to the greatly increased need for more liability coverage for all drivers, and it also increases litigation for Michigan citizens- which is the antithesis of the intention of the current Michigan No-Fault Insurance model.

Is all of this of this suffering for Michigan citizens worth it because the insurance companies want even greater profits?? The 1973 legislature was genius to design the current system which serves Michigan citizens who are accident victims. Not a single driver is impervious to such a misfortune. What would you want?

Experts continue to explain that the second proposed bill, HB6095, is nothing short of an attack on the Health Care industry and its employees who serve and provide care for injured Michigan citizens. Annually, insurance companies collect approximately 12 billion in premiums from 7.2 million insured vehicles. With only an estimated 1400 Michigan citizens crossing the threshold of the MCCA each year at $460,000, for a cost of $644,000,000 and remaining insurance claims of which 95% are less than $50,000, there is plenty left over for insurance companies- which averaged 21% profitability in 2006. (See the Jay Angoff report at www.CPAN.US)

Even with the current state of No-Fault provisions, insurance companies are wrongfully denying claims and forcing care providers to litigate, making them wait years for payment on services rendered. How much more profits do insurance companies expect to squeeze from Michigan citizens??

Bill HB6095 proposes to cap in-home services at 56 hours/week or 8 hours/day, for 37 years. Doctors regularly prescribe that their patients receive 168 hours/week or 24 hours/day for the necessary comprehensive care Michigan citizens have been given that benefit- enabling these citizens to achieve the maximum level of functionality and “normality” for daily life. Now the insurance industry wants to cut benefits- even after gaining record profits??
The No-Fault model was designed to serve Michigan citizens and assure timely payment for services necessary for them to experience their maximum potential for quality of life. These are the same citizens who already fund the MCCA. The HB6095 bill is truly a specious proposal.

Please PROTECT, PRESERVE and STRENGTHEN the existing law and provide consumer protection with a proposal of “bad faith” legislation, which would hold insurance companies accountable

Guaranteed payment of lifetime medical and rehabilitation expenses for all individuals sustaining injury in motor vehicle accidents, regardless of fault, in exchange for fair and reasonable limitations on the rights of seriously injured victims to recover noneconomic loss damages from the careless drivers who cause injury.

As a result of this basic compromise, Michigan was successful in establishing a no-fault system that was the envy of the nation – balancing fair and necessary first party benefits while preserving tort rights for seriously injured victims, all while keeping premiums affordable. (http://www.protect-no-fault.com/index.html)

A full explanation of Michigan’s Auto No-Fault Benefits may be found at the following link: http://www.protect-no-fault.com/michigan-no-fault-system.htm
Many Michigan drivers have no idea that we are the only state in the union to provide such benefits.

Soon the situation becomes clear- the flashing lights, smoke from the flares, twisted metal that moments ago carried commuters, a new driver or perhaps, a family.  You wrench your neck to gawk as you pass the scene. Many times it’s a minor fender bender, but more often than we realize- people are fatally or catastrophically injured on Michigan roadways each day.

Catastrophic injury in an automobile accident is a very serious, life-altering event. It affects not only the injured party, but every person and every aspect in that person’s life. Individuals who sustain catastrophic injuries typically are in for a long recovery period and many require some type of supportive care for the remainder of their lives. Can you imagine the impact on you or your loved ones if this very unfortunate event visited you?