Is it smart to ride without insurance?

huck
Profile picture for user huck
Posts
17042
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Mountain Home, AR, USA
huck
Edited Date/Time 8/29/2014 7:28am
Especially if you are a 'professional' racer?

People should be responsible enough to take care of their own healthcare...not just throw caution to the wind and "hope", then ask for help after they get hurt.

I think when somebody gets their AMA Pro card, it should be mandatory that they have some type of health insurance.
|
MickeyMeanie
Profile picture for user MickeyMeanie
Posts
245
Joined
3/25/2008
Location
Frisco, TX, USA
MickeyMeanie 5/8/2012 7:27am
5/8/2012 7:27am
emmm... to answer your thread title question... I'd have to say "no, it's not smart"...

One thing to consider though, depending on the extent of the injuries, there may well be expenses above and beyond what insurance will cover and that is where one would ask the moto community for assistance to keep from going completely bankrupt.

Do teams that hire riders provide insurance for the riders? Curiosity question... I know there are riders on independant teams that race basically for the opportunity to race. They don't get a salary, just a bike, parts, a rig to pit out of, and bonus money for making night shows and mains. Do those teams provide any kind of insurance for their riders? Should they?
FreshTopEnd
Profile picture for user FreshTopEnd
Posts
13352
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Sacramento, CA, USA
FreshTopEnd 5/8/2012 7:28am
5/8/2012 7:28am
The answer to your rhetorical question is no, Huck, but it begs the question whether such insurance available to pro racer's without an exclusion for injuries associated with racing.
huck
Profile picture for user huck
Posts
17042
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Mountain Home, AR, USA
huck 5/8/2012 7:32am
5/8/2012 7:32am
FreshTopEnd wrote:
The answer to your rhetorical question is no, Huck, but it begs the question whether such insurance available to pro racer's without an exclusion for injuries...
The answer to your rhetorical question is no, Huck, but it begs the question whether such insurance available to pro racer's without an exclusion for injuries associated with racing.
Good question....
Xeno
Profile picture for user Xeno
Posts
3741
Joined
12/30/2010
Location
San Clemente, CA, USA
Xeno 5/8/2012 7:32am
5/8/2012 7:32am
Yes- if you have the finances to pay your medical bills.

Maybe you're actually asking: "Is it rude to ask others for money?"

The Shop

See All »
Racer92
Profile picture for user Racer92
Posts
17965
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Central, TX, USA
Racer92 5/8/2012 7:34am
5/8/2012 7:34am
FreshTopEnd wrote:
The answer to your rhetorical question is no, Huck, but it begs the question whether such insurance available to pro racer's without an exclusion for injuries...
The answer to your rhetorical question is no, Huck, but it begs the question whether such insurance available to pro racer's without an exclusion for injuries associated with racing.
Lloyds of London will insure most anything.
DirtyFilter75
Profile picture for user DirtyFilter75
Posts
6915
Joined
1/9/2009
Location
Evansville, IN, USA
DirtyFilter75 5/8/2012 7:39am
5/8/2012 7:39am
Racer92 wrote:
Lloyds of London will insure most anything.
What about high risk genitalia?
huck
Profile picture for user huck
Posts
17042
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Mountain Home, AR, USA
huck 5/8/2012 7:43am
5/8/2012 7:43am
Xeno wrote:
Yes- if you have the finances to pay your medical bills.

Maybe you're actually asking: "Is it rude to ask others for money?"
I don't think it's ever 'rude' to ask...sometimes pride won't allow some to ask. However, you shouldn't expect anybody to help...when there are others in need that are in their situation from no fault of their own.
Racer92
Profile picture for user Racer92
Posts
17965
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Central, TX, USA
Racer92 5/8/2012 7:44am
5/8/2012 7:44am
DirtyFilter75 wrote:
What about high risk genitalia?
Theyve insured actress' boobs before, I see no reason they wont cover your wayward junk also. Wink
mxracer816
Profile picture for user mxracer816
Posts
1123
Joined
7/28/2011
Location
Atlanta, TX, USA
mxracer816 5/8/2012 7:46am
5/8/2012 7:46am
Yeah, I think it has alot to do with what FTE posted. Not sure on lites class salaries, but I know what my health insurance costs and it is outfuckingrageous! They will pay for 80% of most things as long as you " are not racing for a paycheck". So I can imagine that a policy that is set up for a "hazardous" sport would be astronomical. We all know our sport is bottom of the barrell as far as average salary per rider, so i can understand how it could be hard to justify spending the majority of your salary on insurance. Not sure about all the guys on here that like to give down riders shit about this, but i know over my 30 years here I have ridden and raced with no insurance on more than one occasion.
motogrady
Profile picture for user motogrady
Posts
3931
Joined
1/27/2008
Location
USA
motogrady 5/8/2012 7:47am
5/8/2012 7:47am
If you have assets, no it isn't.
FreshTopEnd
Profile picture for user FreshTopEnd
Posts
13352
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Sacramento, CA, USA
FreshTopEnd 5/8/2012 7:51am
5/8/2012 7:51am
FreshTopEnd wrote:
The answer to your rhetorical question is no, Huck, but it begs the question whether such insurance available to pro racer's without an exclusion for injuries...
The answer to your rhetorical question is no, Huck, but it begs the question whether such insurance available to pro racer's without an exclusion for injuries associated with racing.
Racer92 wrote:
Lloyds of London will insure most anything.
And they calculate the price against the risk and the pool they can insure against. That risk is pretty big and the pool of professional racers is pretty small. Such is a fact of life when health care is a private rather than public good.


Ooops.
mxracer816
Profile picture for user mxracer816
Posts
1123
Joined
7/28/2011
Location
Atlanta, TX, USA
mxracer816 5/8/2012 7:53am
5/8/2012 7:53am
Also I know if I ate shit as bad as JD did it would be hard for me to come up with 20% of his total bill. It has to be in excess of 100k total, so that would make me responsible for 20k, and most people don't have that kind of liquid assets just lying around. IMO it is our healthcare system that is effed up.
Hut
Profile picture for user Hut
Posts
10281
Joined
4/27/2010
Location
USA
Hut 5/8/2012 7:55am
5/8/2012 7:55am
It is not "smart" for anyone to go w/out health insurance; riding or otherwise.
huck
Profile picture for user huck
Posts
17042
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Mountain Home, AR, USA
huck 5/8/2012 7:57am
5/8/2012 7:57am
mxracer816 wrote:
Also I know if I ate shit as bad as JD did it would be hard for me to come up with 20% of his total...
Also I know if I ate shit as bad as JD did it would be hard for me to come up with 20% of his total bill. It has to be in excess of 100k total, so that would make me responsible for 20k, and most people don't have that kind of liquid assets just lying around. IMO it is our healthcare system that is effed up.
most insurance policy have a 'stop loss'...
Truckdriver
Profile picture for user Truckdriver
Posts
789
Joined
2/21/2009
Location
Fort Dodge, IA, USA
Truckdriver 5/8/2012 7:58am
5/8/2012 7:58am
I have huge deductible so I can afford some sort of insurance, and I just used up about 25% of this years deductible. Nursing a fractured hand, wrist and the Radius bone in my arm. May have to make payments, but most will work with you. An I thought AMA had some sort of policy the racers could buy to help with injuries.
mxracer816
Profile picture for user mxracer816
Posts
1123
Joined
7/28/2011
Location
Atlanta, TX, USA
mxracer816 5/8/2012 8:03am
5/8/2012 8:03am
I know some things are carefully omitted in that co-pay cap also. Not trying to justify anything or anyone just think for anyone other than big name guys and riders for teams that provide insurance that it might be unfeasible for a guy like Mike horban to be able to afford. By the way just used his name as an example he may very well have bad ass insurance!
Racer92
Profile picture for user Racer92
Posts
17965
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Central, TX, USA
Racer92 5/8/2012 8:03am
5/8/2012 8:03am Edited Date/Time 5/8/2012 8:05am
FreshTopEnd wrote:
And they calculate the price against the risk and the pool they can insure against. That risk is pretty big and the pool of professional racers...
And they calculate the price against the risk and the pool they can insure against. That risk is pretty big and the pool of professional racers is pretty small. Such is a fact of life when health care is a private rather than public good.


Ooops.
Oops? A question was asked if there were sources to get insurance on risky policies, and I posted one company that covers virtually anything. Asked & answered. I never commented on policy rates, health insurance is already crazy high on a large group level, a private policy no doubt would be spendy.
lostboy819 5/8/2012 8:23am
5/8/2012 8:23am
The riders under age 26 can stay on their parents health care if they have it and by the look of the pits in LLs and Ponca their I would say most parents have it. Now if you are over 26 and lets say racing pro and cant afford it then it may be time to get a job , because lets face it , by age 26 its time to get real about the future. I don't like Obama care but if its there you better take advantage of it and you need to look into disability insurance as well.

Pit Row

See All »
lostboy819 5/8/2012 8:24am
5/8/2012 8:24am
Young Adult Coverage
Under the Affordable Care Act, if your plan covers children, you can now add or keep your children on your health insurance policy until they turn 26 years old.

What This Means for You
Before the health care law, insurance companies could remove enrolled children usually at age 19, sometimes older for full-time students. Now, most health plans that cover children must make coverage available to children up to age 26. By allowing children to stay on a parent's plan, the law makes it easier and more affordable for young adults to get health insurance coverage.


Your children can join or remain on your plan even if they are:

•married
•not living with you
•attending school
•not financially dependent on you
•eligible to enroll in their employer’s plan
BD49
Profile picture for user BD49
Posts
394
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Canton, GA, USA
BD49 5/8/2012 8:42am
5/8/2012 8:42am
FreshTopEnd wrote:
The answer to your rhetorical question is no, Huck, but it begs the question whether such insurance available to pro racer's without an exclusion for injuries...
The answer to your rhetorical question is no, Huck, but it begs the question whether such insurance available to pro racer's without an exclusion for injuries associated with racing.
There is insurance for everything.....
jndmx
Profile picture for user jndmx
Posts
9696
Joined
1/20/2008
Location
South Kingston, RI, USA
jndmx 5/8/2012 8:44am
5/8/2012 8:44am
FreshTopEnd wrote:
The answer to your rhetorical question is no, Huck, but it begs the question whether such insurance available to pro racer's without an exclusion for injuries...
The answer to your rhetorical question is no, Huck, but it begs the question whether such insurance available to pro racer's without an exclusion for injuries associated with racing.
BD49 wrote:
There is insurance for everything.....
With a giant price tag to go with it....
SteveS
Profile picture for user SteveS
Posts
5598
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
USA
SteveS 5/8/2012 9:12am
5/8/2012 9:12am
Wasn't an AMA event. Apparently freeriding a big uphill hit or something.
huck
Profile picture for user huck
Posts
17042
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Mountain Home, AR, USA
huck 5/8/2012 9:26am
5/8/2012 9:26am
lostboy819 wrote:
Young Adult Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act, if your plan covers children, you can now add or keep your children on your health insurance policy...
Young Adult Coverage
Under the Affordable Care Act, if your plan covers children, you can now add or keep your children on your health insurance policy until they turn 26 years old.

What This Means for You
Before the health care law, insurance companies could remove enrolled children usually at age 19, sometimes older for full-time students. Now, most health plans that cover children must make coverage available to children up to age 26. By allowing children to stay on a parent's plan, the law makes it easier and more affordable for young adults to get health insurance coverage.


Your children can join or remain on your plan even if they are:

•married
•not living with you
•attending school
•not financially dependent on you
•eligible to enroll in their employer’s plan
Which is entirely FUCKED!
FreshTopEnd
Profile picture for user FreshTopEnd
Posts
13352
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Sacramento, CA, USA
FreshTopEnd 5/8/2012 10:13am
5/8/2012 10:13am
FreshTopEnd wrote:
And they calculate the price against the risk and the pool they can insure against. That risk is pretty big and the pool of professional racers...
And they calculate the price against the risk and the pool they can insure against. That risk is pretty big and the pool of professional racers is pretty small. Such is a fact of life when health care is a private rather than public good.


Ooops.
Racer92 wrote:
Oops? A question was asked if there were sources to get insurance on risky policies, and I posted one company that covers virtually anything. Asked &...
Oops? A question was asked if there were sources to get insurance on risky policies, and I posted one company that covers virtually anything. Asked & answered. I never commented on policy rates, health insurance is already crazy high on a large group level, a private policy no doubt would be spendy.
The oops was introducing the health care as a public vs private good issue, not the other issue.

I don't disagree with you that you can buy almost any kind of insurance if you want to pay the price. Can you pay the price is a different issue. Insurers are happiest when they can define the pool by the risk to price the product; professional motorcycle racing is a pretty neat fit of pool to risk, and that's not going to be a cheap product in an already really expensive market for the general population.
Racer92
Profile picture for user Racer92
Posts
17965
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Central, TX, USA
Racer92 5/8/2012 10:18am
5/8/2012 10:18am
FreshTopEnd wrote:
The oops was introducing the health care as a public vs private good issue, not the other issue. I don't disagree with you that you can...
The oops was introducing the health care as a public vs private good issue, not the other issue.

I don't disagree with you that you can buy almost any kind of insurance if you want to pay the price. Can you pay the price is a different issue. Insurers are happiest when they can define the pool by the risk to price the product; professional motorcycle racing is a pretty neat fit of pool to risk, and that's not going to be a cheap product in an already really expensive market for the general population.
I see your point, thanks for clarifying. You are right it would be cost prohibitive for most professional racers to afford a specialized policy for themselves, but can they really afford not to when things go wrong? Tough situation on this one for sure.
txmxer
Profile picture for user txmxer
Posts
9770
Joined
8/21/2006
Location
Weatherford, TX, USA
txmxer 5/8/2012 10:27am
5/8/2012 10:27am
Hut wrote:
It is not "smart" for anyone to go w/out health insurance; riding or otherwise.
^^^^ this.

It's a fact of life in the U.S.
Barrett57
Profile picture for user Barrett57
Posts
2270
Joined
8/31/2010
Location
GB
Barrett57 5/8/2012 10:36am
5/8/2012 10:36am
I do it all the time, but I live under the tyranny of socialism and get health care for free.
Katoom72
Profile picture for user Katoom72
Posts
893
Joined
12/12/2011
Location
BE
Katoom72 5/8/2012 10:55am
5/8/2012 10:55am Edited Date/Time 5/8/2012 11:00am
Barrett57 wrote:
I do it all the time, but I live under the tyranny of socialism and get health care for free.
Oh hey fellow vitctim of socialism and free healthcare.

Wel 'free' aint that free. The taxes on paychecks in our country are rediculous.
Barrett57
Profile picture for user Barrett57
Posts
2270
Joined
8/31/2010
Location
GB
Barrett57 5/8/2012 11:07am
5/8/2012 11:07am
Barrett57 wrote:
I do it all the time, but I live under the tyranny of socialism and get health care for free.
Katoom72 wrote:
Oh hey fellow vitctim of socialism and free healthcare.

Wel 'free' aint that free. The taxes on paychecks in our country are rediculous.
They are, but im sure a hell of a lot of my taxes goes to bombing people on the other side of the planet and the Eaton bum chums who run parliment so they can have a second house or a moat around their castle.
Katoom72
Profile picture for user Katoom72
Posts
893
Joined
12/12/2011
Location
BE
Katoom72 5/8/2012 11:10am
5/8/2012 11:10am
Barrett57 wrote:
They are, but im sure a hell of a lot of my taxes goes to bombing people on the other side of the planet and the...
They are, but im sure a hell of a lot of my taxes goes to bombing people on the other side of the planet and the Eaton bum chums who run parliment so they can have a second house or a moat around their castle.
Yup, first they fill their pockets then they fill the pockets of their friends. And when there is a some left they plant speedcamera's to recover some of the money that 'vanished'.

Post a reply to: Is it smart to ride without insurance?