The insurance industry reported that this big slash from $100,000 to $3,500 in coverage was because certain health practitioners, or whomever, were abusing the system by making false claims.
In my opinion, as the insurance companies were able to identify these abusers, go after them, not the drivers paying for this coverage.
There are abusers when it comes to car repairs too. Is Collision Coverage the next thing to go?
The Definition of Minor Injury that’s subject to the Cap of $3,500 is as follows:
a) Minor Injury: means a sprain, strain, whiplash associated disorder, contusion, abrasion, laceration or subluxation and any clinically associated sequelae. This term is to be interpreted to apply where a person sustains any one or more of these injuries.
b) Sprain: means an injury to one or more tendons or ligaments or to one or more of each, including a partial but not a complete tear.
c) Strain: means an injury to one or more muscles, including a partial but not a complete tear.
d) Subluxation: means a partial but not a complete dislocation of a joint.
e) Whiplash Injury: means an injury that occurs to a person’s neck following a sudden acceleration-deceleration force.
f) Whiplash Associated Disorder: means a whiplash injury that:
(i) does not exhibit objective, demonstrable, definable and clinically relevant neurological signs, and
(ii) does not exhibit a fracture in or dislocation of the spine.
So it’s been decided by your Government and the Insurance Industry, each of these injuries by themselves, or combined . . . $3,500 will be all anyone would need for their medical care and rehab to fully recover from any type of auto collision.
It is my hope that there will be such an up roar from people hurt in car accidents and denied medical treatment by their insurance company, that the government will have the good judgment to remove the $3,500 cap!!!
The lowering of the Ontario Driver's Accident Benefits Coverage was approved by the McGuinty Government under the guise of saving you money.
The reported savings resulting from our coverage being slashed from $100,000 to a cap of $3,500 for minor injuries will be an average savings of 1%, with many drivers experiencing NO decrease in their premium, only the decrease in their coverages.Further, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario who approved this is aware that the average claim for rehab from car accidents exceeds $40,000. This appears to be a savings for the insurance companies, not Ontario drivers.
No other province in Canada has a cap of $3,500 for their Medical Care of minor injuries. In comparison, Alberta and New Brunswick have $50,000 coverage, even the Northwest Territories and the Nunvat has $25,000 coverage for minor injuries.
I am trying to get this Cap of $3,500 removed. If you wish to add your opinion, please do so below: