Everything Michigan accident victims and attorneys ask us, answered.
Plain answers about Michigan no-fault attendant care. If you don’t see your question, call us at (313) 982-3795.
This information is general guidance. Your specific PIP coverage, eligibility, and benefits depend on your individual policy and circumstances. Consult an attorney for legal advice.
Attendant care is in-home help for someone hurt in a Michigan auto accident. It can include personal care (bathing, dressing), help with mobility, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housework, and transportation to medical appointments. Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance law (MCL 500.3107) requires PIP coverage to pay for these services when they’re medically necessary.
Your auto insurance company, through your PIP (Personal Injury Protection) coverage. There’s no copay or deductible specifically for attendant care. The insurance company pays the agency directly — the patient pays nothing out of pocket in most cases.
To qualify, you must (1) have been in an auto accident in Michigan, (2) have Michigan auto insurance with PIP coverage (yours, a household member’s, or in some cases the at-fault driver’s), and (3) need help with daily activities because of accident-related injuries. A doctor’s recommendation strengthens the claim.
It depends on your medical needs and your PIP coverage tier. Many recipients get between 8 and 24 hours per day — yes, including 24/7 care for serious injuries. The amount is determined by medical necessity, documented by your healthcare team, and authorized by the insurer.
Yes, in many cases. Michigan law allows family members to be paid for attendant care services, but post-2019 reforms cap family caregiver hours at 56 per week. We can structure a hybrid plan — family up to 56 hours, professional caregivers for the rest — to maximize your coverage.
Even with the lowest PIP tier ($50,000 for opted-out, $250,000 standard), you have meaningful attendant care coverage. The amount available depends on what’s been used for medical bills. We’ll review your coverage during intake at no cost.
Michigan’s no-fault law was significantly reformed in 2019 (PA 21 and 22 of 2019). Key changes: drivers can now choose lower PIP coverage tiers, family caregiver hours are capped at 56/week, and provider reimbursement is tied to a fee schedule (200% of Medicare for in-network, lower for non-emergency services after 2024). The reforms made the system more complex — using an experienced agency and attorney matters more than ever.
In urgent cases, within 24 hours of your call. Standard intake: 24 hours for nursing assessment, then care begins immediately after the care plan is signed and authorization received from the insurer. We move while the insurer reviews — most insurers retroactively authorize.
It means a healthcare provider — usually your treating doctor — has determined that you need the help to safely recover at home. It doesn’t have to be life-threatening. Common qualifying conditions: traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, broken bones limiting mobility, post-surgical recovery, chronic pain affecting daily function.
No more than using any other part of your insurance does. PIP benefits are something you’ve already paid for — they’re not a punitive use of coverage. Many Michigan drivers never use their PIP benefits even when they’re entitled to them.
No. You can request care directly through your insurance company, and we can help coordinate that. However, many no-fault claims become contested; denied, underpaid, or cut short by the insurer. A personal injury attorney often makes the difference between getting the care you need and fighting endlessly. We can refer you to attorneys we trust if you don’t have one.
Denials are common — insurers routinely deny attendant care claims, even valid ones. If you’re denied, you have options: appeal, IME (independent medical examination), and ultimately litigation. We continue care during disputes when possible, and our documentation is built to withstand IME challenges.
Post-2019, Michigan PIP services are reimbursed at a percentage of Medicare rates (or other fee schedule benchmarks). For in-network providers, that’s about 200% of Medicare. For services where Medicare doesn’t have a code (like attendant care), there are state-set caps. Reputable agencies bill within these schedules; agencies billing wildly outside trigger audits and denials.
Attendant care is help WITH the injured person (bathing, mobility, medications). Replacement services is help with tasks the injured person USED TO do but can’t anymore (cooking for the family, mowing the lawn, picking up the kids from school). Both are PIP-covered, but they’re separate benefits with separate caps. Michigan PIP allows up to $20/day for replacement services, for up to 3 years post-accident.
Daily caregiver notes, weekly nursing summaries, monthly billing records, and full IME-resistant chart documentation. On request, we provide Bates-numbered batches for attorneys preparing for deposition or trial. Our records meet Michigan PIP fee-schedule audit standards.
We have Arabic-speaking caregivers available; important for our Dearborn-area clients. Spanish-speaking caregivers are limited but available on a case-by-case basis. Tell us during intake.
Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties — Metro Detroit’s tri-county area. Detroit, Dearborn, Livonia, Westland, Canton, Plymouth, Northville, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Royal Oak, Troy, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Sterling Heights, Warren, Roseville, St. Clair Shores, Clinton Township, Macomb Township, and surrounding cities.
Michigan PIP claims have a 1-year statute of limitations from the date you submitted (or should have submitted) a claim, with a 3-year tail in some cases. If you’ve been receiving any treatment or PIP benefits, the clock may be more flexible. Call us — we’ll evaluate your situation at no cost.
Doesn’t matter for PIP. Michigan is a true no-fault state; you receive PIP benefits regardless of who caused the accident. (You may also have a claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering or excess economic loss; that’s separate, and an attorney handles it.)
Three things. First, speed: care begins within 24 hours of accepted referral. Second, documentation: our records hold up under PIP fee-schedule audits and IME challenges, which means fewer denied claims and stronger case files. Third, communication: we work directly with adjusters and case managers, and we keep attorneys CC’d on every material development. We’ve been doing this in Michigan since 2009.
Still have questions?
Call our intake team — answered 24/7. Or send a referral or care request now.