This Week’s Money Map:

• 🚗 Hit by a driver with no insurance? See who pays (it might be you)

• 🗓️ Health insurance shopping opens Nov. 1. Do these 3 steps first

• 🎃 The scariest health insurance horror story starts with the plan you pick

• 🐾 Love animals? Holiday travelers will pay you to watch theirs

🚗 Hit by a driver with no insurance? See who pays (it might be you)

Remember the poll asking which money horror story scares you the most? Last week's winner was an insurer refusing to pay after a disaster. Running neck and neck was this one: getting hit by a driver with no insurance.

It's a fair fear. And it's more common than most people think.

1 in 3 drivers can't fully pay for what they break

About 15% of drivers had no insurance in 2023, per the Insurance Research Council. Add drivers who carry too little coverage, and it's one in three. In some places, it's worse. Mississippi led the country at 28.2% uninsured, followed by New Mexico at 24.1%.

So that car next to you at the red light? Decent odds it couldn't cover a serious crash.

What happens when they hit you

Normally, the at-fault driver's insurance pays your bills. No insurance means nobody's paying. You could sue, but a driver who skipped insurance often doesn't have the money to collect.

That leaves your own policy. Collision coverage can fix your car, minus your deductible. But your medical bills, lost paychecks and pain? Those can land on you.

The $9 fix most people skip

Uninsured motorist coverage pays your bills when the other driver can't. It costs about $9 a month on average, less than many streaming subscriptions. See how uninsured motorist coverage works before you assume it’s already in your policy.

Some states require it. Others let you turn it down in writing, and plenty of people sign that form without reading it. Check your declarations page. If you don't see uninsured motorist coverage, you may have waived it.

"Underinsured" is the sneakier monster

Many states require only $25,000 per person in bodily injury coverage. A single disabling injury averages $174,000 in economic costs, per the National Safety Council. So a driver with a legal, minimum policy can still leave you with a six-figure gap.

Underinsured motorist coverage fills that gap. Get at least 100/300/100 limits if you have $50,000 to $500,000 in assets; see how much car insurance you need if your assets run higher.

The delivery driver twist

Few people see this gap coming: if a delivery or rideshare driver hits you between orders, their personal insurer and the app company may both say “not us.” This video explains what happens if a DoorDash driver hits your car, and why uninsured motorist coverage keeps you from getting stuck in the middle.

If it happens to you

Call the police, even for a "minor" crash. Photograph both cars, the plates and the scene. Get the driver's name and license number. Then call your own insurer right away, even if you weren't at fault.

Check your policy before Halloween night

Halloween means kids in dark costumes and drivers in a hurry. Before the trick-or-treaters head out, open your auto policy and look for two words: "uninsured motorist." If they're missing, get a price with this car insurance calculator. Nine dollars a month is a small price to keep someone else's mistake from becoming your bill.

🗓️ Health insurance shopping opens Nov. 1. Do these 3 steps first

Marketplace open enrollment for 2027 starts this Sunday, Nov. 1. If you buy your own health insurance, this is the one window each year to change plans without a special reason.

And this year, skipping it could cost you more than usual.

Why 2027 deserves a closer look

The extra subsidies many enrollees relied on expired at the end of 2025, and Congress hasn’t brought them back. On top of that, insurers asked for a median 15% rate increase for 2027, per KFF (formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation). Stack those together, and your bill could jump even if you don’t lift a finger.

Many plans renew automatically if you do nothing. That’s convenient, but your current plan could cost more, cover less or drop your doctor, and you wouldn’t find out until January.

The dates to remember

• Nov. 1: Open enrollment starts.

• Dec. 15: Last day to pick a plan that starts Jan. 1.

• Jan. 15: Open enrollment ends.

Those are the HealthCare.gov dates. If your state runs its own marketplace, its deadlines may differ, so check your state’s site.

Do these 3 steps before you shop

1. Estimate your 2027 income. Your premium help is based on what you expect to earn next year, not last year. Grab recent pay stubs and last year’s tax return. Freelancer or side hustler? Use a realistic number, since going over certain income thresholds can wipe out your subsidy entirely, not just shrink it. Guess too low, and you may have to pay some help back at tax time.

2. List your prescriptions. Write down every medication, the dose and how often you take it. Then check each plan’s drug list. A cheaper plan isn’t cheaper if your medication costs triple.

3. List your doctors. Include specialists, your pharmacy and your preferred hospital. Search each plan’s network before you choose. Going out of network can mean paying most or all of the bill yourself. This page explains in-network vs. out-of-network care and why it matters.

Then compare more than the premium

The monthly price is only part of the cost. Look at the deductible and the out-of-pocket maximum, too. A low premium with a huge deductible can still sting if you see a doctor often.

See who qualifies for health insurance subsidies, and use this guide on how to get health insurance if you’re shopping for the first time. This video also breaks down who’s paying more for coverage in 2026 and how to avoid absorbing a big increase.

Your weekend homework

Before Sunday, grab a folder and put three items in it: your income estimate, your prescription list and your doctor list. When enrollment opens, you’ll compare plans in minutes instead of hours. And you’ll know exactly which plan fits your life, not just your budget.

🎃 The scariest health insurance horror story starts with the plan you pick

Halloween ends this Saturday night. The real horror season starts Sunday morning: health insurance open enrollment.

Scroll social media, and the stories write themselves. A $15,000 bill after hitting the out-of-pocket max. An ambulance ride that ended at an out-of-network hospital. A surgery denied as “not medically necessary” months after it happened.

Most people miss the twist: these nightmares start the day you choose your plan, long before any bill arrives.

The monster hiding in plain sight

Marketplace health plans denied 19% of in-network claims in 2024, per KFF. That’s nearly one in five. But the average hides a huge spread. Some insurers denied as few as 3% of claims. Others denied 36%.

A cheap plan that fights you on every bill can end up costing more than a pricier one that just pays. So before you sign up, look up your options in MoneyGeek’s claim denial rates by state and insurer.

Another scare: 2027’s price hike

Insurers asked for a median 15% rate increase, per KFF. When prices climb, it’s tempting to grab the lowest premium and run. That’s exactly when a high-denial insurer creeps in.

Your surprise bill shield, and the crack in it

The No Surprises Act protects you from most surprise out-of-network bills, whatever plan you pick. That covers:

• Emergency room care

• Out-of-network doctors at an in-network hospital or surgery center

• Air ambulances

But ground ambulances slip through. About 22 states have their own rules to fill that gap. Get a bill you think breaks the law? Call the federal help desk at 1-800-985-3059.

If “denied” still shows up at your door

Even a good insurer will deny something eventually. Don’t panic. Fewer than 1% of denied marketplace claims were appealed in 2024. When people did appeal, insurers reversed about a third. One study of New York’s outside reviews found nearly half of denials overturned.

So fight back:

• Ask for the reason and the appeal steps in writing.

• Request an itemized bill. Billing errors are common.

• Ask the provider to pause collections while you appeal.

• Keep a log of every call: date, name and what they said.

Don’t let your plan be the jump scare

This year, as you compare plans, add one line next to premium and deductible: “How often does this insurer say no?” It takes two minutes to check.

The best horror stories are the ones that never happen to you.

🐾 Love animals? Holiday travelers will pay you to watch theirs

Thanksgiving and December travel are coming fast. Millions of people will hit the road. Their dogs, cats, fish and iguanas won't.

That's where you come in. Pet care is one of the easiest side hustles to start, and the holidays are its busiest season.

The market is big, and it's growing

Pet owners spent $158 billion on their pets in 2025, per the American Pet Products Association. The group expects $165 billion in 2026. About 95 million households own a pet, and about 71 million of them have a dog.

Many of those owners need help every single week. And almost all of them need help when they travel.

What you can charge
Rates vary by city. Use these as a starting point:

• Dog walking: About $21 for a 30-minute walk, based on 2025 national app rates.

• Drop-in visits: $25 to $50 for a 30-minute check-in.

• Overnight pet sitting: $75 to $150 a night.

• Pet waste cleanup: About $15 to $30 a visit for weekly service.

Holiday demand pushes prices up. In a Pet Sitters International survey, 67% of pet-sitting businesses charge a holiday surcharge. More than half expect to be fully booked two to three weeks before a holiday. Translation: owners book early, and the late ones pay more.

Apps or go solo?

Pet-sitting apps bring clients fast. But they take a cut. Rover, for example, keeps 20% of each booking. A $21 walk puts about $17 in your pocket.

Going solo lets you keep it all. Start with neighbors, coworkers and a simple post in your local community group. Happy clients who refer friends are worth more than any app. Ask each one for a review and a referral. Two or three regulars can fill your holiday calendar.

Does pet sitting need its own insurance?

Nobody mentions this part in those ‘earn $500 a weekend’ posts: most general liability policies don’t cover animals in your care. If a dog slips its leash and gets hurt, you could pay the vet bill yourself.

You need "animal bailee" coverage for that. Pet care business insurance averages about $72 a month, according to this pet care insurance cost report. Dog walkers often pay less. See this guide to dog walking insurance, plus picks for the best pet care insurance providers.

Planning to board pets in your home? Check your city's zoning rules and your homeowners association first. Some require permits.

Don't forget taxes

If you earn $400 or more in net profit, you owe self-employment tax of 15.3%. Set aside about a quarter of what you earn. Your last 2026 estimated tax payment is due Jan. 15, 2027.

Your holiday calendar fills faster than you think

Remember, owners book weeks ahead. Post your Thanksgiving and December dates tonight, with a holiday rate already baked into the price. Start with one service you can do well, and get an insurance quote before your first booking. You already love animals. This year, let them help pay for the holidays.

Smart Cents gives you actionable tips and mindset shifts to help you reach your financial happy place. Thanks for being a part of our community.

The MoneyGeek Team

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