1712 - Availability of benefits.
§ 1712. Availability of benefits. An insurer issuing or delivering liability insurance policies covering any motor vehicle of the type required to be registered under this title, except recreational vehicles not intended for highway use, motorcycles, motor-driven cycles or motorized pedalcycles or like type vehicles, registered and operated in this Commonwealth, shall make available for purchase first party benefits with respect to injury arising out of the maintenance or use of a motor vehicle as follows: (1) Medical benefit.--Subject to the limitations of section 1797 (relating to customary charges for treatment), coverage to provide for reasonable and necessary medical treatment and rehabilitative services, including, but not limited to, hospital, dental, surgical, psychiatric, psychological, osteopathic, ambulance, chiropractic, licensed physical therapy, nursing services, vocational rehabilitation and occupational therapy, speech pathology and audiology, optometric services, medications, medical supplies and prosthetic devices, all without limitation as to time, provided that, within 18 months from the date of the accident causing injury, it is ascertainable with reasonable medical probability that further expenses may be incurred as a result of the injury. Benefits under this paragraph may include any nonmedical remedial care and treatment rendered in accordance with a recognized religious method of healing. (2) Income loss benefit.--Includes the following: (i) Eighty percent of actual loss of gross income. (ii) Reasonable expenses actually incurred for hiring a substitute to perform self-employment services thereby mitigating loss of gross income or for hiring special help thereby enabling a person to work and mitigate loss of gross income. Income loss does not include loss of expected income for any period following the death of an individual or expenses incurred for services performed following the death of an individual. Income loss shall not commence until five working days have been lost after the date of the accident. (3) Accidental death benefit.--A death benefit paid to the personal representative of the insured, should injury resulting from a motor vehicle accident cause death within 24 months from the date of the accident. (4) Funeral benefit.--Expenses directly related to the funeral, burial, cremation or other form of disposition of the remains of a deceased individual, incurred as a result of the death of the individual as a result of the accident and within 24 months from the date of the accident. (5) Combination benefit.--A combination of benefits described in paragraphs (1) through (4) as an alternative to the separate purchase of those benefits. (6) Extraordinary medical benefits.--Medical benefits, as defined in paragraph (1), which exceed $100,000. (Feb. 12, 1984, P.L.53, No.12, eff. Oct. 1, 1984; Feb. 7, 1990, P.L.11, No.6, eff. July 1, 1990; Oct. 4, 2002, P.L.845, No.123, eff. 60 days; Dec. 23, 2002, P.L.1982, No.229, eff. Dec. 3, 2002) 2002 Amendments. Act 123 amended par. (1) and Act 229 amended par. (1). See section 21 of Act 229 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to promulgation of guidelines to implement Act 229. Cross References. Section 1712 is referred to in sections 1715, 1718, 1719, 1720, 1721, 1752, 1753, 1787 of this title.