Various media outlets are buzzing about the potential impacts of letting Florida’s no-fault law mandating the carrying of PIP coverage lapse.
Insurance News Net offers an interesting statistic:
Bayfront Medical Center, Pinellas County’s only trauma center, treated 2,055 PIP patients in 2005. Of those, nearly half, or 948 patients, had no health insurance. But because of the PIP requirement, the hospital received $3.2-million.
Somehow, given the large population of retirees in the state, I doubt that Florida will be quick to join the universal health care bandwagon (either because of Medicare already being available, or because of the expense involved in expanding coverage beyond current Medicare limits). However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the potential lapse of mandatory PIP in Florida generating some stats for future universal health care debates.