Understanding Auto Insurance
Choosing the right accident benefits could alter your destiny.
65,000 people are injured each year in car accidents in Ontario.
24 % result in serious, life-changing injuries
1% of these are catastrophic
The basic mandatory package now provided by insurers does not provide enough coverage for serious and catastrophic injuries. Buying up affordable optional benefits, is a wise investment to protect you and your loved ones.
Medical and Rehabilitation insurance benefits cover medically necessary goods and services that aren’t publically funded such as physiotherapy, speech therapy, psychology, medications, accessibility renovations, nursing, wheelchairs, artificial limbs, etc. Attendant Care benefits cover the services of personal support workers to assist with bathing, dressing, toileting, etc.
All benefit claims are subject to your insurer’s determination of what is reasonable and necessary. Some insurers practice “deny and delay” tactics in managing claims. Choose an insurer with a good reputation for client-centred claims management.
| BENEFIT | Pre-June 1, 2016 | June 1, 2016 | YOU CAN CHOOSE TO: | ASK YOURSELF: |
| Medical and Rehabilitation(non-catastrophic injuries) |
$50,000 | These benefits have been combined and reduced to $65,000 total | Increase the benefit to $130,000 total | Is there someone to look after you/your injured family member (including children) or will you need to hire help?Can you risk running out of med/rehab benefits if you exhaust the $65000 (likely within 1 year) before you’re back to maximum function? |
| Attendant Care(non-catastrophic injuries) |
$36,000 | |||
| Medical, Rehabilitation and Attendant Care(all injuries) |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Increase the combined non-catastrophic benefit to $1,000,000 and the combined catastrophic benefit total to $2,000,000 |
How long might you/your family require med/rehab and attendant care if seriously injured?Is there a young person or someone with compromised health covered by your policy?Can you afford to pay for med/rehab or attendant care privately once benefits are exhausted? |
| Medical and Rehabilitation (catastrophic injuries) |
$1,000,000 | These benefits have been combined and reduced to $1,000,000 total | An additional $1,000,000 for a total of $2,000,000 for catastrophic injuries |
Can you afford to pay for med/rehab and attendant care after $1,000,000 has been exhausted? |
| Attendant Care (catastrophic injuries) |
$1,000,000 |
| BENEFIT | CURRENT POLICY | NEW POLICY | CLIENTS CAN CHOOSE TO: | ASK THEM: |
| Caregiver
Reimbursement |
Up to $250/week for 1st dependant; $50/week for additional dependant. Catastrophic injuries only. |
No change | Extend benefit to cover Minor & Serious Injuries | Is there someone to look after your dependants if you or your spouse is injured? If one of you is injured and the other continues working will you need to hire help? |
| Housekeeping & Home MaintenanceReimbursement to hire someone to carry out household responsibilities |
Up to $100/week.
Catastrophic injuries only. |
No change | Extend benefit to cover Minor & Serious Injuries | If you or your spouse is injured is there someone to carry out household responsibilities (eg. snow shovelling, grass cutting, housecleaning, etc.) or will you need to hire help? |
| Income ReplacementWeekly income of $400; begins one week after accident occurs |
70% of gross up to $400/week | No change | Increase to $600, $800 or $1000 per week. | If the injured person’s income currently exceeds $ 400/week, can you make do with this? |
| Dependant CareReimbursement for additional expenses if your employed and injured |
Not provided | No change | Purchase up to $75/week for 1st dependant, $25/week for additional dependants. Max of $150/week. |
How much care might the injured person’s dependants need? How old are they? How dependant on care? |