Is personal injury protection required in New Jersey?

The best way to find cheap PIP insurance is to shop around and compare quotes from several insurers in your state. The personal risk factors that can affect how much you pay for PIP (personal injury protection) are the same ones that affect the pricing of any type of auto insurance. These include your claims history, credit history, location, driving record, age, and gender. As with all types of insurance, different insurance companies weigh each factor differently, resulting in a range of prices. That’s why you need to compare quotes to find cheap PIP insurance for your situation.... read full answer

However, the primary factors that can make PIP expensive are beyond your control. State law sets minimum and maximum coverage limits for PIP in your location, and that’s a huge part of determining premiums. For example, PIP will naturally be more expensive in a state that requires unlimited coverage for lifetime medical costs related to an accident than in one with low mandatory limits.

Another key factor that affects the cost of PIP insurance in some states is the prevalence of fraud. PIP is a common target of fraud, with people often faking accidents or falsifying medical claims to get payouts they don’t deserve. In states with a large amount of PIP fraud, like Florida and Michigan, the costs associated with that fraud get passed on to policyholders in the form of higher premiums.

The twelve states that require PIP insurance, also known as personal injury protection, are Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, and Utah. Of these states, 11 are “no-fault” states. Pennsylvania law requires drivers to purchase $5,000 in medical benefits, but does not mention PIP specifically. PIP coverage is also available, but optional, in seven additional states, plus the District of Columbia.... read full answer

PIP States

PIP insurance covers medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, no matter who is at fault. These expenses include ambulance fees, medical and surgical treatments, and prescriptions. PIP can also reimburse you for lost wages, home care expenses, and even funeral expenses.

You need personal injury protection (PIP) insurance if you live in one of the 12 states that require it. You should also get PIP if your health insurance has low coverage limits or if you drive with passengers who could hold you responsible for their medical expenses in the event of an accident.... read full answer

In the 20 states (plus Washington, D.C.) where it is required or offered as optional protection, PIP covers medical expenses for the policyholder and his or her passengers after an accident, no matter who was at fault. However, PIP is not available at all in the 30 other states.

Always check with your insurance company or an agent for specifics on what coverage is required or available in your state before you determine what to include in your policy.

What Does PIP Cover?

• Ambulance fees
• Health insurance deductibles
• Medical treatments
• Surgery
• Rehabilitation
• Prescriptions
• Lost wages
• Home care such as cleaning or child care
• Funeral costs

If you are in a car accident, PIP often works in conjunction with your health insurance coverage. Most health insurance deductibles must be paid before benefits start to be paid out, but your PIP may have a cheaper deductible, or no deductible at all.

How Does PIP Work With MedPay?

PIP insurance may overlap with another kind of car insurance known as Medical Payments, or MedPay. Like PIP, MedPay covers the costs of medical care resulting from of an accident, no matter who was at fault. Also like PIP, MedPay covers injuries to any passengers in your car. However, it does not pay for lost wages, rehabilitation or home-care services, which PIP would cover.

The way PIP and MedPay may work together depends on your state’s laws. If you live in one of the 12 states that require PIP, MedPay could be redundant. State limits on PIP vary widely, from $3,000 in Utah to New York’s $50,000 requirement. If your state has a low upper limit on PIP, MedPay coverage could act as a beneficial supplement. In a couple states – namely, Maine and New Hampshire – MedPay is used instead of PIP.