Opinion ID: 1302584
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Stacking ProvisionsGenerally.

Text: The amendment to section 516A.2 involved an antistacking provision. The term stacking is used to describe the situation which exists where a person who has more than one type of insurance covering injuries sustained by a given type of accident, sustains the type of injury so covered, and seeks to recover under each of the applicable policies or endorsements. It generally is held that stacking is permissible, unless precluded by statute, or by valid other insurance or set off clause, to the extent necessary to enable the injured person fully to recover his [or her] damages, but it will not be permitted to provide a double recovery, or any recovery in excess of proper damages. 7 Am.Jur.2d Automobile Insurance § 326, at 1009 (1980). Stacking is just another word to denote the availability of more than one policy, or one policy with multiple vehicles, providing reimbursement of the losses of the insured. Interpolicy stacking occurs when the insured recovers underinsured or uninsured benefits under more than one policy. In contrast, intrapolicy stacking occurs when the insured recovers underinsured or uninsured benefits under more than one vehicle under a single policy. See 3 Alan I. Widiss, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Insurance § 40.1, at 237 (2d ed.1992).