The political landscape of health care reform has shifted wildly in the past few months. But one thing appears certain—eventually, it will be reintroduced in some fashion.

Among the many issues to consider when reviewing the bill is one that concerns the motorcycle riders of America—the possible requirement to purchase healthcare insurance and coverage for a motorcyclist involved in a crash.

The Heart of the Issue

Their concern is that not only could they be possibly forced to purchase insurance but that they still won’t be covered when they do!

This stems from the fact that when the HIPAA law, which intended to insure non-discrimination in health coverage, was implemented, insurers were allowed to deny health benefits for an otherwise covered injuries. These included injuries from certain types of recreational activities such as skiing, horseback riding, snowmobiling or motorcycling.

A.B.A.T.E.

ABATE stands for A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education.  It was formed in the early 1970’s to protect and assist motorcyclists in the legislate realm.

The group’s mission is to “preserve the universal right to a safe, unrestricted motorcycling environment, and to propose and advocate actions that can be taken by elected and appointed officials to protect and conserve the natural resources of the State of Illinois, and ensure through professional management that sustainable use, recreational opportunities and enjoyment of these new resources is available for this and future generations.”

They are urging elected Washington officials to fully understand how the health care bill will impact their constituents including those who partake in so called “recreational activities.”

The ABATE chapter in Florida is also suggesting that if the health care reform becomes law, that all elected officials partake in that plan instead of using their private, tax payer paid for health insurance.

Photo via | El Caganer