News:

New Wiki available at http://wiki.gstwins.com -Check it out or contribute today!

Main Menu

healthcare and motorcycles - AMA needs support!

Started by Maduro Mistress, January 16, 2006, 11:27:02 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Maduro Mistress

There's a coal mining company in Illinois that modified their insurance policies to void any insurance claim if it involved "alcohol or motorcycles." They are basically saying that a drunk driver is just as bad as a kid riding a minibike in his backyard (article below)...

Employer refuses to cover motorcycle-related injuries

Imagine you went to work one day, and your boss handed you a memo that said your employer, to protect the benefits of "responsible" employees, would no longer cover motorcycle-related injuries under the company's health insurance?
Plus, the company wouldn't make good on its employee life insurance policy if you were killed in a motorcycle crash.
You'd still be covered if you did almost anything else: bungee jumping, skydiving, scuba diving, skiing. Just not on your motorcycle.
Outrageous?
We think so. But that's exactly what happened one day this summer to hundreds of workers at the American Coal Company mine in Galatia, Illinois.
The company notified them that coverage was being terminated immediately—without warning—on any motorcycle-related injury to employees or their dependents.
That means if a worker is injured riding a legally licensed motorcycle on the street, there's no medical coverage. Even if the injury is caused by another driver, the rider could lose. He'd be entirely dependent on the other driver's insurance coverage. And these days, medical bills can quickly overwhelm minimum-coverage policies—if the other driver even has insurance.
But it goes beyond that. If the worker has a kid who's injured riding a minibike in the back yard, that's not covered. If the worker's spouse is hurt while riding, that's not covered. Any injury could wipe out the family's finances.
Ironically, American Coal has imposed this discriminatory rule in one of the biggest motorcycling states in the country. Illinois ranks sixth in the number of road motorcycles nationally, and the Motorcycle Industry Council estimates that motorcycling contributes $900 million to the state's economy.
We learned of this discriminatory policy from Michael Cummins, a former American Coal Company worker who lives near the mine. He's seen first-hand the chilling effect the memo has had on his riding buddies who work for the company.
He says that some motorcycling workers have left their jobs, while others have sold their bikes or simply stopped riding because of the policy.
Worse, he fears that American Coal's decision could set a precedent for other companies.
Unfortunately, this is not a new problem. It's one the AMA has been working on for over a decade, (see "Insurance Battle Continues in Congress," right).
The AMA first got involved in this issue in the late '80s, when we received reports that several companies and unions were eliminating health-insurance coverage for motorcycling injuries. In one particularly devastating case, AMA member Tom Klimek was injured in a crash that wasn't his fault in the Chicago area. The driver who hit him had no insurance, and his coverage through the Teamsters Union prohibited payments for motorcycling injuries. As a result. Klimek ended up paying tens of thousands of dollars out of his own pocket.
The situation in Galatia is especially troublesome, in part because of the company's attitude in announcing the new policy. In his memo, Robert Murray, the company's chairman, president and chief executive officer, implies that riding a motorcycle is, in itself, irresponsible.
"In order to protect and preserve our benefits for the vast majority of our employees who are responsible, benefits for motorcycle operating and intoxicated employees, performing any task, must be eliminated," Murray wrote.
"There will be no medical benefits whatsoever to any employee, or his dependents, as a result of an accident while operating a motorcycle, or where the employee is intoxicated and performing any task. Further, no life insurance or other benefits will be provided to the employee."
The memo goes on to say that "anyone missing work as a result of a motorcycle accident or intoxication will be charged with an unexcused absence for the duration of his or her affliction."
Officials of the company did not return phone calls asking for information on the policy.
Cummins says he isn't aware of an employee motorcycle-related injury that would have triggered the policy change, and he doesn't know of any crashes since the new policy took effect.
He said workers approached lawyers about trying to fight these new restrictions in their health coverage, but were told that company officials were completely within their rights under the law.
A solution to the issue, however, is as close as two bills introduced by lawmakers who understand the problem.
"What people don't know until it's too late, is that currently, employers' 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 U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who joined with U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin) to introduce S.B. 577 to change the law.
A similar bill was introduced in the House—House Resolution 2793, offered by U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) and Ted Strickland (D-Ohio).
Currently, the bills remain in committee. And that's where you come in. The more our representatives in Washington are aware of the problem, the better our chances of moving forward on the issue.
"We need the help of all motorcyclists to get the law clarified in Congress so that motorcyclists and others who take part in legal activities are covered," said Edward Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations.
Voicing your support is as easy as visiting the Rapid Response Center at www.AMADirectlink.com, where you can send e-mails in support of the bills with the click of a mouse.
sobriquet---logomachy---woolgathering---cloud-cuckoo-land---fourth estate---defenestration---circumlocution---bluestocking

surlybruce

WOW thats some crazy sh#t ! Quite draconian it would be almost impossible for that to happen up here in CANADA . One question though . Why should the company you work for insure you should that not be a individual responsibility ? I guess living with free health care  has clouded my view of others . The biker community as a whole must get involved possibly lead by  heros on GS 500 s .Remember 10 loud mouths are more effective than 1000 silent ones.
05 / GS 500 F / BLACK - SILVER / FENDERECTOMY / BLACK WINDSCREEN / LP CARBON SHORT STALKS / PAINTED - DRILLED HEEL PLATES / IRIDIUM PLUGS / CARBON TANK PROTECTER / SHOCK #6  / FITCH FUEL CATALYST / AIRBRUSH CARBON HUGGER / PROGRESSIVE SPRINGS / V-STROM HANDGUARDS / 137.5-62.5- 20 RE - JET / ?????

Jared

When the 2nd Amendment is lost, the rest will soon follow.

Torque is LBs-FT Damn it.
Yeah that was me.    One of my rides

surlybruce

Sorry JARED  only have my NOVA SCOTIA grade 10. I went to school with RICKY from the TRAILER PARK BOYS.
05 / GS 500 F / BLACK - SILVER / FENDERECTOMY / BLACK WINDSCREEN / LP CARBON SHORT STALKS / PAINTED - DRILLED HEEL PLATES / IRIDIUM PLUGS / CARBON TANK PROTECTER / SHOCK #6  / FITCH FUEL CATALYST / AIRBRUSH CARBON HUGGER / PROGRESSIVE SPRINGS / V-STROM HANDGUARDS / 137.5-62.5- 20 RE - JET / ?????

Maduro Mistress

sobriquet---logomachy---woolgathering---cloud-cuckoo-land---fourth estate---defenestration---circumlocution---bluestocking

Phaedrus

Madure Mistress, when in doubt...post it anyway. It is better for something like this to be said twice than not at all.  :thumb:
Richard died in a motorcycle accident that was at no fault of his own.  We lost a good friend and good member of this board.  Though Rich may be gone, his legacy will live on here.

Photos from the June '06 Northeast GStwin Meet

Jared

Hey ...Post this one 1000 times.

I was just chiming in...besides it bumps the message into the New" bin again for those who might have missed it.
When the 2nd Amendment is lost, the rest will soon follow.

Torque is LBs-FT Damn it.
Yeah that was me.    One of my rides

Maduro Mistress

sobriquet---logomachy---woolgathering---cloud-cuckoo-land---fourth estate---defenestration---circumlocution---bluestocking

John Bates

Just click

here

to lend your support.  It's painless.

:cheers:
----------------------------------------------------
Bikes don't leak oil, they mark their territory.  (Joerg)
----------------------------------------------------


2002 Harley Sportster XLH883 with V&H Straight Shots
Prior owner of 1992 GS500E stock
Fairfield County, OH
USA

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk