Ontario is making changes to auto insurance that give you more flexibility and control over your coverage.

Starting July 1, some accident benefits that were previously included in every insurance policy will become optional. That means you can choose the coverage that fits your life, but it also means it’s important to make sure you still have the protection you need.

If you don’t have the right coverage in place, you could be left with less protection and higher out-of-pocket costs after an accident.

As insurance brokers, we’re here to help you better understand all your options and find the policy that’s right for you. Have questions about your accident benefits? Email us at accidentbenefits@nullmitchinsurance.com.

Self-assessment checklist

What’s staying the same

Every auto insurance policy will still include:

  • Medical benefits
  • Rehabilitation benefits
  • Attendant care benefits

These cover essential costs like doctor visits, physiotherapy, and help with daily life after an accident.

What’s becoming optional

You’ll now have the choice to add or remove additional accident benefits coverage, including:

  • Income replacement
  • Non-earner benefits
  • Caregiver benefits (*)
  • Lost educational expenses
  • Visitor expenses
  • Housekeeping and home maintenance (*)
  • Damage to personal items
  • Death and funeral benefits

*Right now, your policy includes standard coverage for caregiver, housekeeping, and home maintenance in the event of a catastrophic injury, unless you’ve chosen enhanced coverage.

Starting July 1, you’ll have options:

  • Coverage for catastrophic injuries only
  • Or expanded coverage for both catastrophic and non-catastrophic injuries

If you want broader protection, you’ll need to select the enhanced option.

Who is covered

Starting July 1, optional accident benefits will only apply to:

  • The policyholder
  • Their spouse
  • Their dependants
  • Any drivers listed on the policy

Some people who may have been covered before, like certain passengers, pedestrians, or cyclists may no longer be included under optional benefits.

Another important change

Auto insurance will now pay first for medical and rehabilitation expenses (excluding medication) for injuries from an auto accident (before workplace or private health benefits).

What this means for you

If you’re an existing Mitch Insurance client:

  • Your policy will automatically renew with your current coverage
  • No action is required unless you want to make changes to your accident benefits

Before making any changes, we strongly recommend reviewing your personal and/or work benefits to see what’s covered.

If you’re purchasing or renewing a policy after July 1:

  • We’ll help you understand what’s included, and what you may want to add

Life changes = coverage changes

Your insurance should keep up with your life.

If your situation changes – for example, starting a new job, growing your family, going back to school, or taking on caregiving responsibilities – it’s a good time to review your coverage and make sure it still fits.

We’re here to help

Insurance doesn’t have to be complicated. As insurance brokers, we’re here to help you understand your options, explain what matters, and make sure you have the right coverage in place.

If you have questions or want to review your policy, reach out anytime:

accidentbenefits@nullmitchinsurance.com

Frequently asked questions

Some auto insurance accident benefits are becoming optional, so you can choose what works best for you. Medical, rehabilitation, and attend care coverage will stay the same. All other accident benefits will become optional, and there will also be changes to who is covered under these optional benefits.

Your coverage will renew as-is unless you choose to make changes. However, who is covered for optional benefits is changing for all auto policies in Ontario.

Yes. You can update your policy at any time, just keep in mind that the coverage in place at the time of an accident is what applies.

Yes, the accident benefit changes apply to all drivers and auto insurance policies in Ontario, including personal and commercial vehicles, along with motorcycles, snowmobiles, and all-terrain vehicles.

Some people already pay for benefits through their employer or private insurance plans. These auto insurance changes eliminate a one-size-fits-all approach, and consumers will no longer have to pay for benefits they may already have elsewhere or don’t want to buy.

If you choose to remove optional benefits from your insurance policy, it may impact your premium. However, it’s important to make sure you have the right benefits in place so that you’re protected after an accident.

As of July 1, optional accident benefits will only apply to the policyholder, their spouse, dependants, and any drivers listed on the policy. Passengers won’t be covered for optional benefits unless they fall into one of these groups under a policy that includes that coverage. However, standard accident benefits will still apply to all passengers.

Standard accident benefits will still apply to uninsured pedestrians and cyclists. Optional accident benefits coverage will only apply to the policyholder, their spouse, dependants, and any drivers listed on the policy. Pedestrians and cyclists won’t be covered for optional benefits unless they fall into one of these groups under a policy that includes that coverage.

Talk to us. As insurance brokers, we’ll walk you through your options and help you choose what makes sense for your situation.

Disclaimer: The descriptions of the statutory accident benefits in this document is a summary of the statutory accident benefits in Ontario Regulation 34/10 (the “SABS”). Do not rely on this summary alone. For full details, refer to the new standard automobile wordings available at fsra.ca or speak with a Mitch Insurance broker.