Optional Medical, Rehabilitation & Attendant Care Benefits:
In the last 6-7 years changes to the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule have drastically reduced the benefits available to those injured in automobile accidents in the province of Ontario. Coverages may feel adequate or even substantial at first glance; however, we are routinely seeing our clients run out of money for car accident physiotherapy. Additional expenses such as those mentioned in our prior blog post can quickly burn through the available funding.
Additional or “optional” medical, rehabilitation and attendant care coverage is available from your insurer and we strongly recommend that every policy holder purchases this coverage. To give you an idea of what it might cost to add this optional coverage to your policy each Physio In Motion staff person in our office called their own insurer for current pricing information. The average cost to purchase Optional Medical, Rehabilitation and Attendant Care Benefits was $55.00 per year. That’s about the cost of a latte from Starbucks every month!
Auto insurance is expensive and it’s not easy to voluntarily pay more for less coverage than you had a decade ago. If you ever find yourself recovering from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident you will be thankful that you made the investment.
Standard vs. Optional Coverage:
(a) Standard coverage for non-minor and non-catastrophic injuries:
Up to $65,000.00 for medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits, including assessment costs, for a maximum duration of 5 years or until age 28 for minors.
(b) Optional coverage for non-minor and non-catastrophic injuries:
Up to $130,000.00 for medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits, including assessment costs, for a maximum duration of 5 years or until are 28 for minors.
(c) Standard coverage for catastrophic injuries:
Up to $1,000,000.00 for medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits, including assessment costs, for a lifetime duration.
(d) Optional coverage for catastrophic injuries:
Up to $2,000,00.00 for medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits, including assessment costs, for a lifetime duration.