Uninsured Motorist Coverage for Seniors in Maryland
Maryland requires a minimum amount of uninsured motorist coverage, and age itself doesn't change what you're required to carry or what it costs to add more.
Maryland requires it, and it matters at any age
Maryland requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage at the same level as their liability coverage, unless they reject it in writing. This isn't optional in the way some other coverages are. If you're insured in Maryland, you likely already have it.
The reason it matters for an older driver is the same reason it matters for anyone. If another driver hits you and has no insurance, or not enough, your own policy is what pays for your injuries and damage. Your age doesn't change whether you need that protection. What changes is how much protection makes sense, and that depends on your health coverage, your savings, and how much you drive.
Your health insurance changes how much you need
If you're on Medicare, you may assume it covers injuries from a crash the same way it covers everything else. It does, but Medicare can seek reimbursement from any settlement you get later, including a payout from your own uninsured motorist coverage. That can leave you with less than you expected.
This is worth asking your insurer about directly. Ask what your uninsured motorist coverage would actually pay out after Medicare is reimbursed, not just what the policy limit says. The limit and the amount you keep are not always the same number.
If you carry supplemental coverage beyond Medicare, ask the same question of that insurer. Some supplemental plans have their own reimbursement rules, and they don't always match Medicare's.
Dropping or lowering it to save money has a real cost
Some drivers, once they're older and driving less, look at trimming coverage to lower the premium. Uninsured motorist coverage is one place people consider cutting because it feels like a cost that only pays off in a bad scenario.
The number of uninsured drivers on the road doesn't go down because you drive less. Every trip to a doctor's appointment or to see family carries the same risk of being hit by someone with no insurance as it did when you drove every day.
If cost is the real issue, ask your insurer about ways to lower the premium elsewhere, a different deductible, a discount you qualify for, before you reduce this particular coverage. Maryland sets a minimum for a reason, and going below what you had isn't the same as going below what's required.
Questions people ask about this
does Maryland require uninsured motorist coverage for all drivers?
Yes, unless a driver formally rejects it in writing, Maryland requires uninsured motorist coverage at the same limits as liability coverage. Ask your insurer to show you on your policy whether you've accepted or rejected it, since paperwork from years ago can be easy to forget.
what happens if an uninsured driver hits me in Maryland?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage is what pays for your injuries and damage in that situation, since the other driver has no insurance to cover it. The claim goes through your insurer, not theirs, so it's worth knowing your own limits rather than assuming the other driver's coverage will handle it.
can I be denied uninsured motorist coverage because of my age?
No, Maryland's requirement applies to all drivers who carry liability coverage, regardless of age. If an insurer is treating your age as a reason to limit this specific coverage, ask them directly what rule they're applying and whether it's a company policy or a state requirement.
does uninsured motorist coverage go up when I'm older?
It depends on the insurer, since pricing takes into account your driving record, how much you drive, and other factors that can shift with age. Ask your insurer specifically what's driving any change in this part of your premium rather than assuming it's tied to your birthday.
should I keep full uninsured motorist coverage if I rarely drive anymore?
Driving less doesn't remove the risk that the other driver in a crash has no insurance, so the coverage still serves its purpose. If you're considering lowering it, ask your insurer what the actual difference in premium would be, since it may be smaller than you expect.
See what uninsured motorist coverage looks like from a few different insurers before you decide what to keep.
Pull out your current policy and find the page that lists your uninsured motorist limits, it's usually near the liability section. Call your insurer and ask two things: whether you've ever rejected or reduced this coverage, and how a claim would work alongside your Medicare or supplemental health coverage. If you're on a fixed income and considering changes to save money, ask about other ways to lower your premium first. Write down what you learn, since this is also useful information to have on hand if you ever compare quotes from a different insurer.
