Does Medicare Cover Motorcycle Accidents in Michigan?
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You don’t have to be young to enjoy a motorcycle. Many retirees ride more than they did while working. A crash can still be devastating, especially for older riders.
For motorcyclists on Medicare, paying accident medical bills can be complicated when No-Fault is also in play. Here is how Medicare and motorcycle accident coverage interact in Michigan.
Do You Have a Case?DOES MEDICARE COVER INJURIES FROM MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS IN MICHIGAN?
Sometimes, but Medicare is often secondary, and it only pays for Medicare-covered services. The rules differ when a car or truck is involved.
Motorcycle accidents involving another motor vehicle
Michigan No-Fault uses an order of priority for a motorcyclist’s PIP medical benefits when a motor vehicle is in the crash:
- The No-Fault policy of the car’s owner
- The No-Fault policy of the car’s driver, if different
- The motorcyclist’s own auto No-Fault policy, if any
- The motorcycle owner’s auto policy, if different from the operator
- The Michigan Assigned Claims Plan (MACP), which generally caps medical benefits at $250,000 after the 2020 reforms
Medicare may pay for covered services when PIP medical benefits are exhausted or not available and no other plan is primary. You still owe Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and anything Medicare does not cover.
Motorcycle accidents that do not involve a passenger vehicle
Motorcycles are not “motor vehicles” under the no-fault act. A crash with only the bike (for example, a deer or a solo slide) generally does not create PIP from a car policy.
Medicare may still pay covered services if you have no other primary medical coverage. If you have optional motorcycle PIP or other health insurance, those policies usually come first.
A rider without the required motorcycle liability insurance ($50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident) can also face barriers to some first-party benefits.
DOES MEDICARE COVER THE SAME SERVICES AS MICHIGAN NO-FAULT INSURANCE?
No. Medicare’s benefit list is narrower than Michigan PIP.
PIP can pay for items Medicare covers poorly or not at all, including:
- In-home attendant care (often limited or uncovered by Medicare)
- Extended nursing-facility care beyond Medicare’s skilled-nursing rules
- Some durable medical equipment, and home or vehicle modifications
- Long-term rehabilitation, including speech therapy, when medically necessary under PIP
No-Fault can also include work loss, replacement services and survivor’s loss. Those are not Medicare benefits. Think carefully before you opt out of auto PIP medical coverage just because you have Medicare.
WILL I HAVE TO REIMBURSE MEDICARE FOR MY MEDICAL BILLS?
Possibly. If you recover from an at-fault driver, Medicare may assert a reimbursement claim (Medicare Secondary Payer) against the settlement for accident-related payments it made.
Those issues are technical. Talk to a motorcycle accident attorney before you settle.
ARE SENIOR MOTORCYCLISTS AT GREATER RISK OF DEATH AND SERIOUS INJURY?
Riders of any age are about 28 times more likely to die in a crash, per mile, than people in cars. Older riders often face a higher chance of fractures and a longer recovery.
PUT OUR EXPERIENCED MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYERS TO WORK FOR YOU TODAY
If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, we can help. Many of our lawyers ride. We will put our experience and resources to work for you.
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