LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Jonathan Lindsey, (R-Coldwater), has introduced Senate Bill 1208 to eliminate repetitive paperwork for Medicare-eligible seniors renewing their auto insurance.
Under current Michigan law, seniors who choose to opt out of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) medical coverage must fill out the exact same form every six months or at every policy renewal.
If a driver misses a form, the policy automatically defaults to unlimited PIP coverage, forcing the policyholder into a higher premium they did not want.
Lindsey argued that since Medicare coverage does not expire every six months, a senior’s choice of auto insurance level shouldn’t either, calling the current continuous requirement “paperwork, not protection.”
The proposed legislation would allow a senior’s lower PIP coverage election to remain active for as long as they stay with the same insurer or an affiliate.
The choice would only change if the insured explicitly revokes it in writing or selects a different option.
The bill maintains all existing eligibility safeguards: drivers must still be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, spouses and resident relatives must have qualified health coverage, and anyone changing to a brand-new insurance company must make a fresh election.
According to Lindsey, the bill does not alter the state’s safety net but simply allows a one-time choice to stay in place until the driver decides otherwise.
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