There is currently a loophole in US Federal law which allows group insurance companies to disallow claims if they occurred during participation or use of legal transportation or recreation including motorcycling.
The previously passed HIPAA legislation has established that employers cannot refuse health care coverage to an employee on the basis of their participation in a recognized legal activity (motorcycling, skiing, horseback riding, snowmobiling, etc). However, the loophole is that benefits can be denied for injuries sustained in connection with those very same activities. So, we are guaranteed the right to health care coverage in general but not to any benefits in the event of a claim resulting from these activities.
A Bill has recently been introduced in the House (H.R. 1076) attempting to close this loophole through amendment to the prior regulations. Since the Bill has only been introduced, it needs the sponsership and encouragement of as many Reps possible in order to debated, voted on, and have any chance of passing.
More information on this Bill can be found here ( H.R. 1076 ) or by Googling on "H.R. 1076".
You can also go to the AMA's Rapid Response website (link below) to get an easy way to contact your Federal legislator even if you are unsure who your representative is. You do not need to be an AMA member to use this website.
https://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/rapidresponse.asp
I am not looking for debate on this issue here, merely pointing out something that should be of concern to all of us as active motorcyclists. I have used the AMA website to alert my House Rep as to my feelings, and already received a response back from her.
The previously passed HIPAA legislation has established that employers cannot refuse health care coverage to an employee on the basis of their participation in a recognized legal activity (motorcycling, skiing, horseback riding, snowmobiling, etc). However, the loophole is that benefits can be denied for injuries sustained in connection with those very same activities. So, we are guaranteed the right to health care coverage in general but not to any benefits in the event of a claim resulting from these activities.
A Bill has recently been introduced in the House (H.R. 1076) attempting to close this loophole through amendment to the prior regulations. Since the Bill has only been introduced, it needs the sponsership and encouragement of as many Reps possible in order to debated, voted on, and have any chance of passing.
More information on this Bill can be found here ( H.R. 1076 ) or by Googling on "H.R. 1076".
You can also go to the AMA's Rapid Response website (link below) to get an easy way to contact your Federal legislator even if you are unsure who your representative is. You do not need to be an AMA member to use this website.
https://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/rapidresponse.asp
I am not looking for debate on this issue here, merely pointing out something that should be of concern to all of us as active motorcyclists. I have used the AMA website to alert my House Rep as to my feelings, and already received a response back from her.
