Updated June 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering when another driver causes a crash and has no insurance. It also covers hit-and-run crashes where the at-fault driver flees before you can document their insurance. The coverage uses the same limits structure as liability—typically $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident—and pays after your health insurance processes claims, covering deductibles, copays, and expenses health insurance excludes.
- You're stopped at a red light in Omaha when another vehicle rear-ends you at 40 mph and flees. You suffer a concussion and neck injury requiring $18,000 in emergency care and follow-up treatment. Your health insurance covers $14,000 after a $4,000 deductible. Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays the $4,000 deductible plus $2,000 in copays and physical therapy your health plan excluded. Without this coverage, you pay $6,000 out of pocket.
- An uninsured driver runs a stop sign in Lincoln and T-bones your vehicle. You suffer a broken collarbone and miss six weeks of work. Medical bills total $22,000 and lost wages total $8,000. Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays the full $30,000 up to your policy limits. Your liability policy pays nothing because you didn't cause the crash. The at-fault driver has no insurance to file against, so without Uninsured Motorist Coverage you would need to sue the driver personally and attempt collection.
- You're a passenger in a friend's vehicle when an uninsured driver causes a crash. You suffer $12,000 in medical expenses. The friend's Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays first, but their limits are only $25,000 per accident and three passengers split that amount. Your own Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays the remainder of your bills under your policy limits. Passengers without their own coverage receive only their share of the vehicle owner's policy.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
You should carry Uninsured Motorist Coverage if you cannot afford to pay $10,000–$50,000 in medical bills out of pocket after a crash you didn't cause. Suspended license drivers reinstating after a DUI or points-related suspension need this coverage because the suspension itself signals higher crash risk, and Nebraska's 14% uninsured rate means you face elevated exposure during the high-risk reinstatement period. If you're required to carry SR-22 and are buying liability-only, adding Uninsured Motorist costs $10–$15 per month and protects you from the most common financial consequence of driving in a state with no coverage mandate.
Compare the annual cost of Uninsured Motorist Coverage to your health insurance deductible and maximum out-of-pocket limit. If the coverage costs $120 per year and your health deductible is $4,000, you break even after one uninsured-driver crash every 33 years. Nebraska's 14% uninsured rate and your elevated crash risk during SR-22 reinstatement make this coverage statistically justified unless you have both excellent health insurance and sufficient savings to self-insure.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage typically adds $8–$15 per month to a Nebraska policy, or $96–$180 per year.
- Policy limits selected—$25,000/$50,000 costs less than $100,000/$300,000, and high-risk drivers often choose minimum limits to reduce total premium during the reinstatement period.
- Your driving record and violation history—suspended license drivers pay 40–80% more for all coverages including Uninsured Motorist due to filed SR-22 status.
- County uninsured motorist rate—Douglas County has a 16% uninsured rate while rural counties average 12%, affecting pricing in metro Omaha and Lincoln.
- Whether you add Underinsured Motorist Coverage—buying both coverages together costs less than adding Underinsured later, and carriers often bundle pricing for the two.