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In this article, CheapInsurance.com dives into required minimum liability limits in California and across the country. Those shopping for valid coverage, particularly in the context of financing or leasing a vehicle, should also note why simply meeting the minimum may be risky.

What “Minimum Liability Coverage” Means and Why It Exists

Every U.S. state, with one exception, requires drivers to carry a minimum level of auto insurance to legally operate a vehicle.

Liability coverage is designed to protect other people and their property when the insured driver is at fault in an accident. Specifically, it includes two main components:

• Bodily Injury (BI) Liability: This is the amount the insurer will pay for others’ medical expenses, lost wages, or legal claims when the insured driver injures someone.
• Property Damage (PD) Liability: This is the amount the insurer pays for damage to someone else’s vehicle or property when the insured driver is at fault.

These limits are typically expressed as a set of numbers, such as 25/50/25. This format means $25,000 per person for injury, up to $50,000 per accident for injury to all persons, and $25,000 for property damage.

In California, the minimum bodily injury liability is $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident, with property damage liability at $15,000.

States mandate these minimum coverage levels to ensure that victims of accidents have some source of compensation and that drivers assume financial responsibility, preventing others from having to absorb the cost of the damages.

Why You Might Need Coverage Beyond the Minimum

Meeting the legal minimum protects one legally, but often fails to provide adequate financial protection or ensure a smooth auto insurance experience. Insurance experts frequently recommend consumers consider higher limits or additional coverage for several common financial and risk management reasons:

When a vehicle is financed or leased

When financing or leasing a vehicle, the lender or lessor usually requires the driver to maintain not only liability coverage but also full coverage, which includes collision and comprehensive insurance, to protect their investment. Furthermore, if a driver causes an accident and the costs for repairs or negligence exceed their liability limits, the lender or other parties could pursue them for the difference. Choosing only minimum limits frequently leaves a driver underinsured.

When other valuable assets are owned

For individuals who own assets such as a home, savings, investments, or other personal property, a lawsuit resulting from a serious car accident could easily exceed minimum liability limits. This exposure creates a significant risk to personal assets. Opting for a higher liability limit helps shield and protect those valuable possessions.

When protection from uninsured or underinsured drivers is desired

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) — Dr. Susanne Ramos says through remote monitoring, she has helped save the lives of her patients in Santa Barbara.

“I saw a normal 30 year old pregnant mama on Tuesday and Friday night. We were crashing her in the operating room to save both mom and baby's lives,” said Dr. Ramos.
 
“This would be a person that insurance companies would not think of monitoring. The problem is hypertension crisis is a silent killer,” said Dr. Ramos, who is a practicing OBGYN.
 
Remote monitoring is a key part of tele-health, as it enables continuous oversight and timely interventions for chronic conditions from a distance.
 
“It allows for the opportunity to do tele-health. It allows for the opportunity to not have to leave work or find childcare for the other kids to be able to come to a doctor's appointment,” said Dr. Santosh Pandipati.
 
Doctors say the practice became more widely used during Covid, and now is a new standard.
 
“The reasons become standard of care is that the information is not only more, but it's useful. We can find out moms who are having blood pressure issues on the rise without them having to just so happen to be in the office in the hospital when that when that occurs,” said Dr. Nate DeNicola.

Cigna has been the first to narrow coverage, refusing to cover remote blood pressure monitoring for pregnant women unless they are high risk.
 
United Healthcare is also moving to restrict remote patient monitoring nationwide.
 
“A lot of times things develop very fast and quietly. A patient doesn't know she's sick until she's really far along in the disease process. And so the key to a lot of this is capturing the mom as she's starting to develop The rising blood pressure,” said Dr. Santosh Pandipati.
  
The CDC says more than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.
 
Dr. Pandipati says delay in seeking care, delay in provider response, and lack of patient knowledge about urgent warning signs are among key contributing factors, but remote patient monitoring helps with early detection.  
 
Doctors are encouraging patients to review their health plans if they were planning on making use of remote monitoring while pregnant.
 

The post Insurance Carriers Roll Back Remote Monitoring, Doctors Warn Vulnerable Pregnant Patients appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Happy Tuesday! We begin with clear skies and light winds to start the morning. The warming trend occurs fast and brings temperatures up to 70s by midday. If working outside, take breaks and hydrate often. High rise into the upper 70s, 80s and low 90s with peak heating occurring closer to 2pm. This will be quite close to heat advisory levels inland. Practice heat safety and take breaks when needed! Winds will be strong in San Luis Obispo prompting a Wind Advisory through 10am. Gust near 35mph will occur and bring warm dry air to the area. Temperatures will soar around to midday in these areas.

Toasty temperatures and tons of sun occur Wednesday. Winds will be strong and offshore. Hydrate and enjoy the beaches! Marine waters and cool, measuring into the 60s, however waves and rip currents are minimal.

Thursday appears to be the last day of sweltering heat before we drop into Friday. High pressure moseys out of the area giving way for onshore flow to reestablish and marine clouds to reform. Into the weekend we drop back into the mid to upper 60s.

The post Toasty Tuesday, sweltering heat mid-week appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

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