New Auto Insurance Law Includes 'Opt-Out' Requirement

DENVER -- If you are about to renew your automobile insurance you may want to look closely at your next bill.A new law goes into effect Jan. 1, that will require you to opt-out if you do not want extra coverage for medical care."It was in response to the huge crisis in trauma care and funding," said Sen. Betty Boyd, D-Jefferson County.

The bill's main sponsor, Sen. John Morse, D-El Paso County, told 7NEWS, "That after Colorado switched from 'no fault' insurance to 'tort', many medical providers were finding that they weren't getting paid.”“If they were,” he said, “sometimes it was years later."Right now, motorists have the option of purchasing extra medical coverage on their auto insurance.Next month, that option turns 180 degrees."If they do nothing, $5,000 worth of extra medical coverage will be automatically added to their coverage." said Carole Walker, of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.Walker said customers still have a choice, but they need to take action to decline it, if they don’t want it.She said the change was made to force motorists to assess what their needs are."If they don't have health insurance, they strongly need to consider the extra medical coverage," Walker said. "Even if they have health insurance, they should consider the extra medical coverage it if they have high co-pays or deductibles."Walker said the good part about the extra coverage is that you don't have to wait for a final settlement, from somebody who caused the accident, to pay your medical bills.Many motorists are not aware of the new law."I didn't learn about it until you told me," said Jamaica Shirley outside a supermarket in south central Denver.Like many people, Shirley said she doesn't pay that much attention to her insurance bill."I just open it and pay it to be honest," she said. "I couldn't tell you what it covers or anything, which is not good."Walker said anyone who drives should pay close attention to everything in their policy."I always tell people that the time to think about what kind of insurance they need is before an accident, not after," she said.Walker added that about 32 percent of Coloradans currently buy medical payments coverage.

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