Colorado's no-fault auto insurance requirement will sunset on July 1, but the state isn't in a rush to get rid of it entirely.

See the biggest insurance problems across the country Choose a state Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Dist. of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Back to main story

There is legislation on the table that will allow consumers to choose between no-fault insurance and regular tort, the latter of which allows consumers to sue for pain and suffering. Currently, Colorado drivers are required to carry $130,000 worth of personal injury protection. If the "choice" bill is adopted, consumers can choose the amount of coverage they want, at a minimum of $10,000.

"Insurance companies say the consumers will save money because they can opt for lower coverage, which carries lower premiums," says Deborah Collette, public affairs director for Colorado's Department of Insurance. "The trial lawyers, who are on the other side, say that $10,000 would be eaten up by medical bills in three days or less, and that people won't be properly protected."

Collette says critics of the no-fault plan that allows consumers to choose the amount of coverage is a way for auto insurers to shift costs to health insurers.

"Once the personal injury coverage on an auto policy is exhausted, then the health insurance would kick in," says Collette.

Insurers believe having a choice will make auto insurance affordable for low-income families, reducing the number of uninsured motorists. In addition, it will still allow people to sue on the basis of fault for unrecovered noneconomic losses.