Hawaii PIP Benefits: What the $10,000 Limit Covers and What Is Optional

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Hawaii personal injury protection pays all appropriate and reasonable accident-related treatment and expenses up to an aggregate $10,000 per person, whoever caused the accident. Wage-loss, death and funeral benefits are optional coverages you must buy.

Who is covered

Hawaii Rev. Stat. 431:10C-304(1) requires the PIP insurer to pay, without regard to fault, for any person including the owner, operator, occupant or user of the insured vehicle, any pedestrian including a bicyclist, and users of mopeds and electric foot scooters. It does not apply to operators or passengers of a motorcycle or motor scooter unless the policy expressly provides.

What counts as a covered benefit

Section 431:10C-103.5(a) defines PIP benefits as all appropriate and reasonable treatment and expenses necessarily incurred because of the accidental harm, including medical, hospital, surgical, professional, nursing, advanced practice nursing, dental, optometric, naturopathic, chiropractic, ambulance, prosthetic, equipment, x-ray, psychiatric, physical therapy on a medical doctor's prescription, occupational therapy, rehabilitation, and therapeutic massage by a licensed massage therapist when a medical doctor prescribes it.

The $10,000 limit

Subsection (c) makes PIP benefits subject to an aggregate limit of $10,000 per person for those services, and lets an insurer offer more. The chapter measures services by its fee schedules, and charges above what the chapter allows are not counted.

Optional coverages

Section 431:10C-302(a) requires insurers to offer, at the insured's option, wage-loss coverage in multiples of $500 a month and $3,000 per accident up to $2,000 a month and $12,000, death benefits of at least $25,000, funeral expenses of $2,000, and PIP deductibles of $100, $300, $500 and $1,000 at reduced premiums.

When you are paid

Under section 304, benefits are paid as they accrue, within 30 days after the insurer receives reasonable proof of the fact and amount and demand for payment. A denial must be in writing within 30 days with the reasons.

Using the calculator

A worked example: with $12,000 of fee-schedule medical expenses and no deductible, PIP pays $10,000. Run your own numbers in the Hawaii no-fault calculator, then read when you may sue and the reimbursement rule. If the other driver has little insurance, see Hawaii UM/UIM stacking.

This is general information, not legal advice, and the state comparisons above are illustrative, not an exhaustive survey. Confirm how Hawaii's rules apply to your specific case with a licensed Hawaii attorney.