IMPORTANT: Legislation affecting ALL motorcyclists

This is a very important issue for motorcyclists across the country. We have been set up for a screwing by one of our "Administrations" which was clearly a result of undo influence from the Insurance Lobby. Your Group Health Care Insurance provider cannot deny you coverage because you ride BUT they can refuse to pay any benefit claim if you are injured in an accident on your bike. We have an opportunity to correct this injustice RIGHT NOW. There are two bills in Congress (House and Senate versions) to close this loophole. Follow the directions and let your guys in Washington know that there is broad support among their constituents to pass this legislation. Go to AMA Direct Link.com (http://www.amadirectlink.com) In the left column, top item, click on AMA RAPID RESPONSE CENTER The next screen will show (4) four ACTION ALERTS. Click on the one for the HOUSE INTRODUCES HEALTH INSURANCE BILL FOR MOTORCYCLISTS. Use the scroll down bar immediately adjacent to the text and fill in your name and address information. Fill in your name in the box labeled "Your Closing:". Finally, click on the "Send Message" box. This will go to the Congressman in your District. It knows who he (she) is from your address. Go back to the ACTION ALERTS screen and repeat the process for the one titled "SENATE INTRODUCES HEALTH INSURANCE BILL FOR MOTORCYCLISTS". This will go to your Senators. Note that there are instructions for editing the AMA text if you care to change anything or add your own comments. If you choose to do so, keep it clean and polite. There are 2 links: one to the House, and one to the Senate. I did it! And you need to do it too! Again, believe me, I know what I'm talking about here. The most effective way to prevent something like this is through a grassroots campaign involving the efforts of everyday citizens, meaning EVERYONE signs on this petition or eMails their Congressmen. You can use the link from the AMA, or you can choose a different route. Here's a link to the US Legislative Branch (http://thomas.loc.gov/home/legbranch/legbranch.html). http://thomas.loc.gov/home/legbranch/legbranch.html Here you can find your US Congressmen and Senators. Simply eMail them your thoughts against this unfair proposition. They will not contact you and engage in a mind boggling, tongue twisting discussion that challenges your knowledge of the Bill making process. They just need to hear from us, and eMail is very effective. Think about it, the lawmaker hears from a lobbyist in favor and ten thousand citizens against. What direction do you think he'll take. Maybe one out of a dozen will go with the special interests group, so that 11 of 12... pretty good odds... so don't let a negative thought prevent you from making a positive change. Also, many of us are members on other Boards. I'll encourage you to post this important information on those sites also. I found this on another board that is specfic to the VFR but I think everyone can use 5 or 10 minutes of their time to keep their asses insured properly. This issue is important to all of us and the more people showing that they care will likely have an influence. Although I don't care for the way our government is being ran, we can't influence their decisions without voicing our opinion!!! Thanks guys, and the few gals around here.

Unfortunatly hawg,most here would rather wait untill things like this go too far and actually become "law" before shelling out the 40 bucks to support or spend the time it takes to "read and sign the petition",although those same people seem to be members here and obviously spend lots of chair time here!!!...apparently they don't get anything in return...sorry guys I just feel these thing are too important,and you all seem to be pretty involved motorcyclists...like I said before,wait until they tell you they just passed a law saying you cant upgrade or even own a motorcycle...It"s happening as we speak,they're trying to make it illegal to ride a dirt bike on your own private property or to get a group together for a dual sport ride,this thing with insurance has already happened several times with the hospitals refusing insurance altogether,bill comes out of your pocket,while your in recovery and your family gets a bill for half a mill. because of some cell phone toting drunk turned left and didn't see you,walks away with a hundred dollar fine and it's all legal..come on people you can't be that ignorant can you???

Unfortunatly hawg,most here would rather wait untill things like this go too far and actually become "law" before shelling out the 40 bucks to support or spend the time it takes to "read and sign the petition", It doesn't cost anything to go to that site and send a couple of email letters to your congressman and senator. When I did it, I even got a reply from my congressman.

It doesn't cost anything to go to that site and send a couple of email letters to your congressman and senator. When I did it, I even got a reply from my congressman. And what did he have to say say about it???

My coverage is good thanks to the USAF.

And what did he have to say say about it??? Dear Mr. Workman: Thank you for writing to me to express your support for H. R. 2793, the "HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act." This measure would amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a group health plan or health insurance issuer offering group health coverage from denying benefits or coverage otherwise provided under the plan for the treatment of an injury solely because it was sustained while a person was engaged in any particular mode of transportation specified in the plan, consisting of the use of a motorcycle, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or other similar recreational vehicle or horseback riding, unless such mode of transportation or its use was illegal. This bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; the House Ways and Means Committee; and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. On July 11, the legislation was referred to the Subcommittee on Employer- Employee Relations. Please rest assured that I will certainly keep your views in mind as H.R. 2793 advances through the legislative process. Thank you again for taking the time to write. It was good to hear from you. Very Truly Yours, Henry J. Hyde

My coverage is good thanks to the USAF. Wont help if they pass these laws. No matter what Ins you have, you can be denied. Better send the emails! Everyone should, it takes 10 seconds, dont be lazy!

Wont help if they pass these laws. No matter what Ins you have, you can be denied. Better send the emails! Actually, we want them to pass these bills. The current law allows for insurers to deny coverage because you are on a motorcycle. These bills would force your insurance carrier to cover you.

yeah that is what I meant :D

yeah that is what I meant :D I didn't want people to just read you post, and then write their congressmen asking them to not pass the bill into law. :D :cheers:

I think something to pay attention to is that they have linked our bill to those other bills.... so that could start the "sucking" like Direct tv says...

I'm in...wife is too. :dthumb:

I never said AMA didn't do anything for me. If any of these comments were directed that way. They have always seemed to work for the best interest of most. I just let my membership laps and never renewed it. This is just one of many things that they do every day. Read through it and if you agree. Support it. I Do.

:thumbs:

I don't think anything was meant towards you jeeps, he was just pointing out that you don't need to be a member to use the rapid response stuff, it is on their public section of the ama website.

I got this in my email box the other day... Thank you . . . . . . for contacting me regarding your support for promoting health care parity for individuals participating in legal transportation and recreational activities. I share your view, and I appreciate hearing from you. As you may know, there is a loophole in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that allows employers to refuse to offer health care coverage to employees who participate in recreational activities. I have supported legislation, and will continue to support legislation, that would make it illegal for an employer to discriminate against employees who participate in activities such as motorcycling, snowmobiling, horseback riding, running, or walking by not offering them health insurance. As legislation comes to the Senate floor, I will keep your views in mind. Thank you again for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can be of assistance to you in the future. Sincerely, Debbie Stabenow United States Senator

I got this in my email box the other day... That's where it starts to be fixed. :dthumb: