I Thought We Were Having Problems In France... from Bikes in the Fast Lane

Custom Search

I Thought We Were Having Problems In France...

October
2005

  File under News Travel
  Author: Mike Werner
  Location: Normandy, France

And here I was feeling sorry for us motorcyclists in France, with automatic radars, loosing motorcycle license, trying to stop us for lane splitting, parking issues in Paris, etc. etc. But I don't think it's anywhere as bad as in the good old US of A.

Apparently, unknown to many, US-based medical insurance companies are allowed to invoke some old and antiquated law that exempts the insurance company from paying medical bills of anyone involved in a motorcycle accident (or snowmobile, horseback riding or ATV riding accidents).

So, even if you're insured, and you have a motorcycle accident, the insurance company can deny your health benefits just because you were riding a motorcycle.....

A couple of Congressmen and Senators are working at changing this law. Senator Susan Collins says "What many people don't know until it's too late, is that currently health insurance providers are legally permitted to deny benefits for injuries sustained while participating in certain recreational or transportation activities such as motorcycling, snowmobiling, skiing, and horseback riding,” said Collins. “This policy is unfair, and I am working with my colleagues to change it.”

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is calling for all US based motorcyclists to fill in an electronic form they have on their web site, which will then automatically be forwarded to their Representative in Congress. The more people who fill in the form (or write to the representative) the easier and faster the change to the law will occur.

So, protect yourself and click on the link below. Scroll down until you see the text "ACTION ALERT - WRITE NOW - SENATE INTRODUCES HEALTH INSURANCE BILL FOR MOTORCYCLISTS!" and "ACTION ALERT - WRITE NOW - HOUSE INTRODUCES HEALTH INSURANCE BILL FOR MOTORCYCLISTS!"

Click here to access the AMA website and fill in your form. Motorcyclists outside the USA can read what's happening, but the form is meant for US based bikers.