Colo. Senators Vote Down Bill Requiring Medical Payments Coverage

The The Colorado Senate Appropriations Committee voted to indefinitely postpone a bill that insurance associations say would have forced drivers to pay for mandated medical payments coverage.

Senate Bill 193, sponsored by Sen. Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton, would have required an auto policy issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2007 to contain medical payments coverage for payment of medically necessary and accident-related health care expenses and rehabilitation for bodily injury arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle. Required coverages would have included legal liability coverage for bodily injury or death of $25,000 to any person in any one accident, and $50,000 to all persons in any one accident and for property damage.

Insurance industry associations had campaigned against the bill, saying it would have unnecessarily raised costs for Colorado drivers.

Source: Colorado General Assembly