A new bill filed in Florida would require accident victims to get treated at an emergency department within 72 hours if they want their auto insurer to pay the bills. The requirement is part of a larger package which renews the state's no-fault auto regulations. The measure would also boost the minimum auto policy medical coverage level from $10,000 to $15,000. The idea behind the bill is to cut down on post-accident auto fraud, which has increased 378 percent over the past four years, according to a former state insurance official. The bill's opponents say that the law would discourage people from seeing their family doctor, rather than having any real impact on fraud. They also suggest that such a requirement could have a negative impact on the state's already-crowded EDs.
To get more background on the legislation:
- read this Sun-Sentinel article