Helping you navigate coverage

Michigan’s auto insurance law allows you to choose your level of personal injury protection (PIP) on your auto insurance policy. This may include opting out of coverage altogether if your health plan has qualified health coverage (QHC).

 

Q: What is PIP?

A: Personal injury protection, or PIP, is the part of your auto insurance policy that covers medical expenses if you are injured in an automobile accident.

Q: What is QHC?

A: Qualified health coverage, or QHC, refers to health coverage that meets specific criteria, according to Michigan law, that allows a member to forgo PIP.

Q: What’s the difference between PIP and QHC?

A: PIP may cover more than QHC, including things like attendant care, housing and vehicle modifications and lost wages.

Q: How do I know if my health plan has QHC?

Group and MyPriority members
A: In most cases, if your health plan fully covers auto accident injuries and has less than an annually updated self-only deductible, your health plan has QHC.

Medicare members
A: If you are enrolled in a plan that has Medicare Parts A and B coverage, such as a Priority Health Medicare Advantage plan, your health plan has QHC.

Medicaid members
A: Medicaid health plans do not have QHC.

Armed services members
A: Tricare coverage for active members in a branch of the armed services is considered QHC, but VA coverage for veterans is not considered QHC.

Q: What are my PIP coverage level options?

A: Your auto insurance agent can provide more detail about the options available to you and the impact on your auto insurance costs.

Q: How do I opt out of PIP?

A: To opt out of PIP you must show your auto insurance agent proper documentation including a QHC proof of coverage letter. If others are also covered on your auto insurance policy, you must also show proof of their QHC or that they are covered under another auto policy with PIP medical coverage.

Q: Who covers my medical expenses if I opt out of PIP?

A: You will be covered by your health plan, but there may be things your health plan doesn’t cover, such as attendant care, housing and vehicle modifications and lost wages.

Q: What if I don’t opt out of PIP?

A: You’ll be covered by both your auto insurance policy and your health plan. Both companies will work together to coordinate coverage and payments toward accident-related injuries. This could help financially, especially if the injuries sustained require extensive therapy.

Q: How can I request my QHC proof of coverage letter?

A: You can request your QHC proof of coverage letter by logging into your member account at member.priorityhealth.com. Click on the Your Plan tab, then Plan Documents. Scroll down, and under Plan Documents, click Michigan Auto Reform.

Q: What if my health insurance plan changes?

A: If your health plan changes, make sure it still has QHC. If it doesn’t, you may be personally liable for your own medical bills in the event of an auto accident.

Q: What if I have questions about Michigan’s auto insurance law?

A: You may call the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) at 833.ASK.DIFS or 833.275.3437 (TTY 711) or go to michigan.gov/autoinsurance.