Certain medical conditions can affect your insurance rates, if state laws allow, due to the fact that you are more of a risk when driving. Or your rates may not be affected however your insurance policy may have an exclusion listed for paying on a claim for an accident that was caused due to a known medical condition such as seizures brought on by epilepsy.
From our research it appears that there are six states (California, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon and Pennsylvania) still require physicians to report patients who have seizures to the state (normally to the DMV). Other states require self-reporting by a motorist to the DMV of a medical condition.
Maryland law requires drivers notify (self-report to) the MVA if they are diagnosed with certain medical conditions. The conditions the MD Motor Vehicle Administration mandates motorists to inform them of includes:
- Cerebral palsy;
- Diabetes;
- Epilepsy;
- Multiple sclerosis;
- Muscular dystrophy;
- Heart condition;
- Stroke;
- Alcoholism, or alcohol abuse;
- Drug addiction;
- Loss of limb or limbs;
- Organic brain syndrome;
- Manic depressive disorders (major affective disorders);
- Schizophrenic disorders;
- Severe anxiety disorders;
- Other illness in which there was a lapse of consciousness, blackout, or seizure; or
- Disorder that prevents a corrected minimum visual acuity of 20/70 in each eye and a field of vision of at least 110 degrees.
A driver must report the problem when it is diagnosed, or when he or she is applying for a driver’s license or renewing an existing driver’s license.
When you have reported a condition, the Driver Wellness and Safety Division (DW&S) may send you several forms to complete. They also may send you a form for your physician to complete. After you return the forms, the DW&S Division then will make a decision about whether your situation should be referred for an opinion from the Medical Advisory Board (MAB). The MAB is a group of doctors who works with the MVA in analyzing customers’ driving abilities. If the MAB is involved, they (the MAB) may ask you for more information, or to attend a meeting.
The MD MVA states that their goal is to keep drivers on the road for as long as they remain a low risk for crash involvement and will thus work with drivers on a case by case basis.
So your license as well as your insurance may be affected if you suffer from epilepsy. For specifics on how an auto insurer or health insurer can rate you with this medical condition contact the Maryland Insurance Administration. This state agency can give you details on if insurers can request information on your medical conditions and how they can use this information.
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