How To Get Auto Insurance With Multiple Sclerosis (2024)

Millions of people who live in the U.S. also live with disabling medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

Millions of people who live in the U.S. also live with disabling medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

Many of these MS sufferers need to drive for the same reasons that everyone else needs to drive, but, because of possible MS-related driving issues, these MS sufferers often face special challenges in the personal car coverage arena.

This article will take a look at some of issues that MS sufferers should be aware of as they search for adequate and effective car insurance coverage. There are plenty of service options available, with various limits and prices. It all boils down to which insurance company is going to become the right fit for the person searching. The same way a company looks at a person’s history, to see if they have a clean driving record or decent credit score, you should also look into a prospective insurer to see what their average cost is going to be and whether or not their auto policies are fair.

With this article, we will take a look at some coverage options that are often useful for people living with MS, and will take another look at ways for these long-suffering individuals to enjoy the possible benefits of comparison shopping websites. Cheap car insurance can be difficult to come across, through no fault of the customers hunting, but knowing what sort of policy you’re after can definitely help.

Compare car insurance options right now by using our free quote tool above to look at a wide range of companies. This way you’ll be able to compare prices of all sorts of policies, and won’t have to look at just the minimum requirements. With how much medical bills and medical expenses can be for a person with MS, finding manageable and affordable rates can be important.

Car Insurance Considerations for MS Sufferers

MS is a progressive neurological illness that can result in the loss of many physical and mental abilities.

While much remains to be learned about this presently incurable illness, it has been established that a root cause of this illness is inflammation in the nervous system that attacks myelin, a special nerve-coating.

Over time, some of the bodily systems that can be affected by this disease include:

• Vision
• Cognition
• Motor control
• Reflexes
• Hearing
• Equilibrium

When these physical and mental systems break down as a result of the progression of MS, the ability to perform many tasks associated with driving a car may be impaired. This doesn’t mean that someone with MS is going to stop being a safe driver, but precautions will need to be taken to ensure they stay safe on the road.

These physical and mental breakdowns that are related to so-called MS relapses can include the following symptoms:

• Vision loss
• Seizures
• Poor coordination
• Reduced reaction time
• Passing out
• Sensation loss
• Weakness in the hands or feet
• Memory loss

When these MS symptoms take hold, many tasks that are fundamental to driving can become difficult to perform. Some of these critical driving tasks can include steering, pedal operation, situational awareness, and visual acuity.

Because the severity of symptoms can vary from person to person, drivers who have MS should be prepared to undergo periodic driving evaluations.

These driving evaluations are performed by state motor vehicle authorities and serve to measure the capabilities and needs of drivers who have MS, as well as verifying their abilities to operate motor vehicles safely.

Drivers who have MS and need to undergo driving evaluations should be at a minimum ready to complete tests for visual acuity, physical motor control, and cognitive functioning.

Drivers with MS who have commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and drive trucks for a living should, in particular, be ready to undergo a battery of such tests. MS sufferers with CDL’s who do well on such tests are often able to pursue successful careers on the open road.

Because drivers who have MS face a loss of function over time, they often need their vehicles to be fitted with special modifications that allow them to continue to drive. These modifications can include:

• Steering wheel spinner knobs
• Adaptive mechanical controls for brake and gas pedal operation
• Digital driving controls
• Joysticks or other single-hand control devices
• Special seats that promote mobility
• Vans or trucks with wheelchair lifts

One way to overcome high insurance costs is to shop around for coverage, and one of the most effective ways to shop around for coverage is to use car insurance comparison shopping websites.

These websites can list the policy information of hundreds if not thousands of different insurance companies, allowing customers with MS to find the best options for the best prices.

When it comes to overcoming discrimination, there is a useful federal law in place that provides protection for people living with disabilities. This law, called the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, was originally enacted in 1990 but improved upon in 2008.

It prohibits insurance companies from using a person’s medical history or disabilities to discriminate against them in any way.

Insurance shoppers with MS who feel that they may be victims of discrimination should keep records of any instances of such discrimination and seek legal counsel at the first opportunity.

Car Insurance Coverage Options That Make Sense for MS Sufferers

• Custom/Special Equipment Coverage – Special equipment coverage items are often added to existing comprehensive policies as endorsements, which are additions to a policy that increases or decreases the number of items that are covered, such as:
• Auto insurance for wheelchair adapted vehicles
• Roadside Assistance Coverage – This car insurance coverage item provides drivers with MS with 24-hour roadside help if and when their vehicles break down.
• Rental Replacement Coverage – This car insurance coverage time provides drivers with MS temporary replacement vehicles if their personal vehicles need repair work.

People who have MS fill many vital roles in society. They are teachers, business persons, parents, professors, writers, and much more.

Even though their disability can make life tougher for them, these valuable citizens deserve to be afforded the same respect and car insurance protections as every other driver on the road. This means not settling for just the lowest rates. For comparative purposes, we offer a free quote tool.

Compare car insurance options by using our free quote tool below so that you or the person you’re helping will be able to get an auto insurance policy that’s a good fit.