Kentucky HB 627 PIP Law: New Benefits for Injured Drivers in 2026
Kentucky’s New PIP Law Is Here: What House Bill 627 PIP Law Means for Drivers Injured in Car Accidents
Beginning July 15, 2026, Kentucky motorists have access to important new Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits under House Bill 627. These changes provide greater financial support for people injured in motor vehicle accidents—but there’s one critical catch: the new benefits apply only to insurance policies issued or renewed on or after July 15, 2026.
That means simply being involved in an accident after the law takes effect is not enough to qualify for the increased benefits. If your auto insurance policy was issued before July 15 and hasn’t been renewed or rewritten, you’ll likely still be covered under the previous law.
At Queener Law, we want Kentucky drivers to understand what these changes mean before they’re involved in a serious crash.
What Is Personal Injury Protection (PIP)?
Personal Injury Protection, commonly known as PIP or no-fault insurance, pays certain expenses after a car accident regardless of who caused the collision.
Kentucky law generally requires every auto insurance policy to include $10,000 in Basic Reparation Benefits (BRB), which can help cover:
Medical expenses
Lost wages
Replacement services, such as childcare or household help
Certain death-related benefits, including funeral expenses
Unlike a personal injury lawsuit, PIP benefits are available immediately after an accident and don’t require you to prove fault.
What’s Changing Under House Bill 627?
House Bill 627 modernizes Kentucky’s PIP system by increasing several benefit limits that had remained largely unchanged for years.
Key Takeaways: Kentucky House Bill 627 and New PIP Benefits
- Kentucky’s new PIP law increases benefits for many injured drivers.
- Wage-loss benefits increase from $200 to $500 per week for eligible injured motorists who cannot work because of crash-related injuries.
- The new benefits apply only to policies issued or renewed on or after July 15, 2026—not simply to accidents occurring after that date.
- Drivers should contact their insurance agents to determine whether their policies can be rewritten or updated.
- The minimum $10,000 PIP limit remains unchanged, making additional PIP coverage worth considering.
- Medical payments, replacement services, and other PIP benefits are also affected by the new law.
- Reviewing your auto insurance coverage now may help protect you after a serious collision.
1. Wage-Loss Benefits Increase from $200 to $500 Per Week
Perhaps the most significant change is the increase in weekly wage-loss benefits.
If you’re unable to work because of injuries from a motor vehicle accident, PIP can pay 85% of your average weekly income, up to the policy limit. Under the old law, that benefit was capped at just $200 per week. Under HB 627, the maximum weekly benefit increases to $500.
For many injured workers, this means substantially more income while recovering.
Example:
An employee earning $800 per week is unable to work for four weeks after a collision.
Under the previous law, the maximum wage-loss benefit would have been $800 total.
Under House Bill 627, that same worker could receive up to $2,000 during those four weeks.
Although the increase is significant, it still won’t fully replace the wages of many Kentucky workers, making additional PIP coverage worth considering.
2. Replacement Services Benefits More Than Double
The law also raises the weekly limit for replacement services from $200 to $500.
Replacement services reimburse expenses for tasks you normally perform yourself but can’t because of your injuries, including:
Childcare
Lawn care
House cleaning
Transportation services
Other necessary household assistance
These benefits can be especially valuable for families while an injured person recovers.
3. Funeral Benefits Increase
House Bill 627 increases the maximum benefit for funeral, cremation, and burial expenses from $1,000 to $5,000, helping reduce the financial burden on families after a fatal collision.
4. Medical Bills Will Be Paid Using Kentucky’s Workers’ Compensation Fee Schedule
Another important change affects how medical providers are reimbursed.
Previously, PIP often paid providers’ full billed charges, causing the $10,000 benefit to be exhausted quickly.
Under the new law, medical payments will generally follow Kentucky’s workers’ compensation medical fee schedule.
For many accident victims, this means their PIP benefits may last longer because providers are paid according to standardized reimbursement rates instead of full billed charges.
However, some healthcare providers may choose not to accept these reimbursement rates. If you’re seeking treatment after an accident, it’s a good idea to confirm that your provider accepts PIP benefits under the new system.
5. Medical Providers Must Submit Bills Within 180 Days
House Bill 627 also creates a new deadline requiring healthcare providers to submit PIP claims within 180 days.
If bills aren’t submitted on time, coverage issues could arise. Accident victims should monitor their medical bills and make sure providers are submitting claims promptly.
The $10,000 PIP Limit Has Not Changed
Although House Bill 627 increases several individual benefit amounts, it does not increase Kentucky’s overall $10,000 Basic Reparation Benefits limit.
That means all covered expenses—including medical bills, wage loss, and replacement services—still come out of the same $10,000 pool.
Because of this, Queener Law recommends discussing Added Reparation Benefits (ARB) with your insurance agent. Additional PIP coverage is often inexpensive and can provide substantially greater protection after a serious accident.
One additional advantage is that added PIP coverage can increase the available weekly benefits. For example, drivers carrying $30,000 in PIP coverage may qualify for significantly higher weekly wage-loss benefits than someone carrying only the minimum required coverage.
The Most Important Part of the New Law
The biggest misconception about House Bill 627 is that everyone injured after July 15 automatically receives the new benefits.
That’s not true.
The new law applies only to policies issued or renewed on or after July 15, 2026.
For example, if your six-month insurance policy renewed on July 10 and you’re involved in a collision on July 20, your claim will generally still be governed by the old law until your policy is renewed or rewritten.
Because of this, Kentucky drivers should review their insurance coverage now rather than waiting until their next renewal.
What Should Kentucky Drivers Do?
To take advantage of the new benefits as soon as possible:
Contact your insurance agent.
Ask whether your current policy can be rewritten or replaced under the new law.
Request written confirmation of the effective date.
Make sure your liability, uninsured motorist (UM), underinsured motorist (UIM), collision, and comprehensive coverage remain unchanged.
Never cancel your existing policy before replacement coverage is fully in effect.
While reviewing your coverage, it’s also worth considering additional PIP coverage and maintaining adequate UM/UIM coverage. Many serious injury cases involve drivers whose insurance limits are insufficient to fully compensate injured victims.
Injured in a Kentucky Car Accident? Queener Law Can Help.
Insurance laws change, but your right to pursue compensation after a serious accident remains important. Whether you’re dealing with PIP benefits, insurance disputes, or a personal injury claim, understanding your rights can make a significant difference in your financial recovery.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Kentucky car accident, the attorneys at Queener Law are here to answer your questions, explain how House Bill 627 may affect your claim, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Contact Queener Law today for a free consultation.