Opinion ID: 2221893
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Legislative Intent as Shown by the Uninsured Motorist Statute.

Text: The fundamental goal of the UM statute is to provide insureds with insurance protection when injured as a result of the fault of an uninsured motorist. See Iowa Code § 516A.1 (1997) (stating that no motor vehicle liability insurance policy may be issued in this state unless uninsured motorist coverage is provided in such policy with limits at least equal to the liability limits required under Iowa Code section 321A.1(10)); see also Douglass v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co., 508 N.W.2d 665, 667 (Iowa 1993) (stating that the purpose of UM coverage is to provide to the victim of an accident the same protection that the victim would have had if the negligent tortfeasor had had minimum insurance coverage). The goal of providing UM coverage to Iowa insureds is not, however, without its limitations. Section 516A.1 specifically allows an insured to reject UM coverage, if done so in writing. See Iowa Code § 516A.1 (However, the named insured may reject all of such coverage....). In effect, then, Iowa's UM statute does not implement mandatory UM coverage; it merely mandates that such coverage be offered to all insureds purchasing motor vehicle liability insurance. Once an insured chooses to purchase UM coverage, Iowa Code section 516A.2(1) becomes relevant. [1] That statute allows insurers to limit UM coverage to the minimum limits prescribed by section 321A.1(10). See Iowa Code § 516A.2(1). More important, it permits insurers to include in UM coverage terms, exclusions, limitations, conditions, and offsets which are designed to avoid duplication of insurance or other benefits. Id. We first had an opportunity to interpret this provision of chapter 516A in the Lindahl case, which we now discuss.