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Insurance Coverage Other Than ICBC
If you have been injured in a car accident in BC, you may be entitled to benefits from a number of sources. It is important to apply for these benefits in advance of requesting "Part 7" or "No Fault" benefits from ICBC. ICBC. will not pay Part 7 / No Fault benefits until your eligibility for other insurance benefits has been determined.
These "other insurance" benefits are typically of two types. The first type is medical or health benefits. The second type is income replacement benefits.
Medical or Health Benefits
Visits to medical doctors and hospitals are typically covered by the Medical Services Plan. However other types of important treatment that you may need as a result of a car accident may not be covered including that offered by other types of health professionals such as physiotherapists and chiropractors. Medications that your doctor prescribes are also expenses not typically covered by M.S.P.
Fortunately, many persons participate in extended health insurance plans through their employers. These plans may provide coverage for treatments by physiotherapists, chiropractors, naturopaths, massage therapists, dentists, podiatrists, psychologists and other health professionals and for prescribed medications subject to specified monetary limits. Because every extended health plan offers different benefits, you should consult your plan brochure or your employer to determine your specific coverage. Remember ICBC. will not consider paying for these benefits unless you either a) don't have other insurance coverage or b) you have other insurance coverage and have a decision from that insurer of what they will or will not pay.
Income Replacement Benefits
Many persons may also be entitled to income loss or disability benefits as a result of an accident. These benefits may be available from a number of different sources including the government and private insurers.
Employed persons may be entitled to sick benefits through the Employment Insurance program of Human Resources Development Canada. These benefits last a maximum of 15 weeks and there is a two week waiting period when no benefits are payable. EI sick benefits are capped at 55% of your average earnings to a maximum of $413 per week. More information concerning EI sick benefits may be obtained from the EI website at this link: click here
Persons injured in a BC car accident with a long term disability may also be eligible for disability benefits from the Canada Pension Plan provided they contributed to CPP 4 of the 6 years prior to their disability. The level of benefits is capped at about $935 per month and depends in part on your past contributions to CPP. More information about CPP disability benefits may be obtained from the CPP website at http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/isp/cpp/disabi_e.shtml
Employed persons may also be entitled to use sick days available through their employment or union contract to maintain their income. Once available sick days are used up, many employed persons may have access to short and/or long term disability benefits from a private insurance company. The specific level of coverage provided by such disability insurance again varies depending on your group insurance plan. Details of your insurance coverage are available through your employer/union or directly from the insurance company.
The importance of these "other insurance" benefits is that they are payable to you after relatively short qualifying periods. In cases where you have also have a claim in negligence against the person who caused your injuries, these benefits will provide ongoing payments to help you during the months or years you are waiting for the resolution of your claim. It is important to remember however that in many such cases, if you receive disability payments from a private insurer and later receive a settlement or judgment that includes compensation for income loss, some or all of those disability payments may have to be repaid to the insurer out of the settlement or judgment.
Many disability carriers may require you to sign an agreement to repaid any benefits you have received from them if you settle or receive a judgment before they will pay those benefits to you. It is important to review any such agreement before signing and you may want to consider obtaining legal advice. Settlement Road would be pleased to put you in contact a lawyer who will provide you with this service. |
