I was just wondering if anyone had some good leads on insurance coverage. I raced last year, but my street riding policy states that racing is not covered. What kind of insurance do you guys carry? Hoping to see Talladega, so if anyone has the time please reply!
I just have health coverage. According to a few insurance agents here in the Akron area, it's pretty much illegal in Ohio for health coverage to exclude any particular activity--short of war--from coverage. Iffin yer looking for coverage for the bike, well you can get it from KKK when yer not racing the bike, but when yer racing, yer SOL.
Good question Kneedragon! I'm looking for an insurance policy that would offer a low deductible with decent coverage. Also in the market for disability insurance. My present insurance plan would really only benefit me once I get to the point of being terminal. Any agents in the WERA organization that can help a self-employed 37 year old? (damn... I blew my "opinionated-old-fart" cover)
AFAIK, no company will insure a bike when used for racing. They might even balk if you wrecked a street bike at a track day... Don't race anything you can't afford to wad up and throw away... James
Your company medical coverage should cover you at the track, but it's always best to check as each state has different rules. If they'll cover people while skydiving, and even pay claims to drunk drivers injured in accidents, I don't see how anyone could be denied coverage for participating in the "sport" of motorcycling. Especially the fools who ride faster on the street than we do on the track! I guess the only bike insurance you could get would be a factory contract. That way when you wad it up, there will be a shiny new one waiting for you when you get back to the pits.
My insurance company verbally said they cover all extracurricular activities like sky diving, rock climbing and said yes when I asked specifically about racing. The only exclusion was intentional injury. Does racing classify as intentional injury? (maybe I should be more specific who I ask) Has anyone had a problem with an insurance deny a claim caused by racing? In that case, how would I get the verbal "yes" I got from my company in writing?
I, too, have questions about insurance coverage. I know that if you are racing in a AMA sactioned event you can use their insurance SHIELD for personnal injury, but I don't think that applies to WERA. I'm guessing from the previous posts that the answer is no, but is there any thing similiar available for WERA? I've seen ads in the back of RR World for insurance, but that seemed geared more to teams rather than some weekend warrior. When I quiz my employer's health care provider, they said they didn't know of any restrictions on racing, etc... as long as the activity wasn't illegal. Guess that rules out street racing! I know of one guy who got hurt racing but just told the insurance he "wrecked his motorcycle." Kinda like don't ask don't tell. One can't help but remember Ruger's (the gun manufacturer)health care plan... (You can drive drunk while playing with guns, but don't get hurt on that bike! Even if you have a helmet on!)
I couldnt imagine any normal insurance companies insuring a motorcycle for racing. And as for those back page ads for racebike insurance, I wouldnt want to begin to think of what the premiums would be! The only thing I have ran into is life insurance premiums. They can raise your premiums(at least in Indiana) for participating in what they call participating in risky sports. I thought racing was dangerous until I did it. I've almost been hit by a car on the street, but can you believe I've never seen one car in a race! I guess the bottom line is if they can vaccum it out of your wallet, they will. P.S. If you can find insurance on your racebike for less than $100.00, let me know!
You should be able to obtain policy documentation from the insurance company and read through it to find if they exclude certain activities. I would not put any faith in a verbal "yes" that a person gives you over the phone. They may not be working there tomorrow. I've been burned on verbals too many times to even consider it. If motorcycle racing is not specifically listed as an exclusion, then you have your answer in writing already. Unfortunately there's no blanket statement, as each company policy and state regulations are different.
My health insurance company, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, not only gave me a verbal "Yes" when I asked about covering racing -related injuries, they did it. I crashed bigtime at Road A in 1996. Ambulance ride, 2 sets of X-rays, overnight observation for a head injury equals about $1,800 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Cost to me equaled zero after my coverage then WERA's coverage taking care of the deductible. And the good news is that my insurance is available to anyone. I am self-employed. Age 29, non-smoker, male. My rates just went up to $84/month. I'm even covered for mental health. Wait maybe that's what covered me, not the racing??????
Don't race anything you can't afford to wad up and throw away... James[/B][/QUOTE] Damn, now someone tells me that.
I am with State Farm and my branch told me as far as the bike, the coverage drops the second the bike hits the tarmac. As far as my health insurance, I have a network plan, and it was as I think was quoted before "Don't ask Don't tell". The best advice was already given. If you can't afford to wad it up then don't. I had a light go down at a track day last year that ended up in about $1300.00 If you want to save yourself the worry. Don't ever try to race street plastic if you have the slightest fear you might go down. It sucks to try to fix, and sucks to replace. By Air tech if your wallet is light, but spend the money and by Sharkskinz. Any racer will tell you it holds up. The best insurance is spares... Best advice, Prepare it WILL happen.
Hey WERA731, I'd forgotten all about BC/BS. They were my insurance provider over 12 years ago when I lived in Boston and I was very satisfied with them. Thanx for the reminder.
For a minute there I thought wera731 was going to break into a personal ad.....29, non-smoker, male..... I guess he came to his senses and remembered where he was typing. That'll teach him to have too many browser windows open while drinking and typing!
I broke my arm racing and I made sure that any questions that were asked as to how it happened were answered "sporting injury". Do not say "lost the front end in the hairpin at Putnam Park", the insurance folks won't understand anyway. If they can pay for the two idiot coworkers who were playing softball who ran into each other at full speed while both looking up and yelling "I've got it!", they can pay for my injury too.(Broken leg and glasses smashed into the forehead) That softball is a dangerous activity!
When I broke my hand in 98 at Talladega I had to use my wife's insurance. Because of a little clause in my insurance from my employer,(does not cover racing activities). No problem just told the ER that I was on my mountain bike.
