Optional Accident Benefits in Ontario Auto Insurance

Key points

• Since July 1, 2026, most statutory accident benefits are optional coverage. Every insurer must offer them under every Ontario auto policy entered into or renewed on or after that date.

• Medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits remain a mandatory part of the policy.

• Optional benefits apply only to the named insured, the named insured's spouse, their dependants and the drivers listed in the policy.

• A policy renewed on or after July 1, 2026 keeps its existing benefits. That changes only if the named insured and the insurer agree in writing.

• An optional benefit may be purchased at any time before an accident.

The Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule

Accident benefits in Ontario are governed by the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule — Effective September 1, 2010, Ontario Regulation 34/10, made under the Insurance Act. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) describes these as benefits that may be available to a person injured in an automobile accident. That is so regardless of who caused the accident.

What changed on July 1, 2026

The benefits in Parts II, IV, V and VI of the Schedule must now be offered as optional benefits. This applies to every motor vehicle liability policy entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2026. Every insurer must offer them. They are:

• income replacement, non-earner and caregiver benefits;

• benefits for lost educational expenses, expenses of visitors, housekeeping and home maintenance, and damage to clothing, glasses, hearing aids and similar items;

• death and funeral benefits; and

• additional optional benefits: higher medical, rehabilitation and attendant care limits, an optional catastrophic impairment benefit, an optional dependant care benefit and an optional indexation benefit.

For income replacement, non-earner, caregiver, death, funeral and dependant care benefits, the Schedule now refers to "the amount fixed by the optional benefit" rather than setting a single amount. An insurer may also offer an optional benefit not listed in the Schedule if the Chief Executive Officer of FSRA has approved it.

What remains standard

As of July 1, 2026, only medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits remain a mandatory part of an Ontario automobile policy. Under section 14 of the Schedule: "Except as otherwise provided in this Regulation, an insurer is liable to pay medical and rehabilitation benefits and, if the impairment is not a minor injury, attendant care benefits, to or on behalf of an insured person who sustains an impairment as a result of an accident."

The Schedule sets limits on these benefits for any one accident. Under section 18:

• for an impairment that is predominantly a minor injury, medical and rehabilitation benefits may not exceed "$3,500 plus the amount of any applicable harmonized sales tax payable under Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) for accidents that occur on or after June 3, 2019 for any one accident". That limit is reduced by amounts under the Minor Injury Guideline and has a limited exception for documented pre-existing conditions;

• otherwise, medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits together may not exceed "$65,000 plus the amount of any applicable harmonized sales tax payable under Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) for accidents that occur on or after June 3, 2019"; and

• for a catastrophic impairment, the limit is "$1,000,000 plus the amount of any applicable harmonized sales tax payable under Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) for accidents that occur on or after June 3, 2019".

For an insured person 18 or older at the time of the accident, these benefits are not payable for expenses incurred over 260 weeks later. For a person under 18 at the time, they are not payable after the person's 28th birthday. These time limits do not apply to a catastrophic impairment, or where certain optional benefits apply.

Optional medical, rehabilitation and attendant care coverage

Under section 28 of the Schedule, the optional medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits every insurer must offer are:

• "an optional medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefit of up to $130,000 plus the amount of any applicable harmonized sales tax payable under Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) for accidents that occur on or after June 3, 2019, in respect of an insured person for any one accident in which the impairment is not a catastrophic impairment, instead of the maximum amount specified in clause 18(3)(a)" (paragraph 3);

• "an optional medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefit of up to $1,000,000 if the insured person did not sustain a catastrophic impairment, or $2,000,000 if the insured person sustained a catastrophic impairment, plus the amount of any applicable harmonized sales tax payable under Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) for accidents that occur on or after June 3, 2019, instead of the maximum amount specified in subsection 18(3), that does not limit the period of time for which those expenses are to be paid" (paragraph 4); and

• "an optional catastrophic impairment benefit for medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits of up to $1,000,000 plus the amount of any applicable harmonized sales tax payable under Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) for accidents that occur on or after June 3, 2019, if the insured person sustained a catastrophic impairment as a result of the accident" (paragraph 5).

Some optional benefits in more detail

The housekeeping and home maintenance benefit covers reasonable and necessary additional expenses, up to the amount fixed by the optional benefit. It applies where the accident leaves the insured person substantially unable to perform the housekeeping and home maintenance services they normally performed. For a non-catastrophic impairment, expenses incurred more than 104 weeks after the onset of the disability are not payable.

The optional dependant care benefit covers reasonable and necessary additional expenses of caring for the insured person's dependants. It requires that the insured person sustained an impairment, was employed at the time of the accident and is not receiving a caregiver benefit.

The optional indexation benefit adjusts certain benefit amounts each January 1. The adjustment follows the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for Canada (All Items), subject to the Optional Indexation Benefit Guidelines.

Who optional benefits apply to

Optional benefits apply only to:

• the named insured;

• the named insured's spouse;

• the dependants of the named insured and of the named insured's spouse; and

• the persons specified in the policy as drivers of the insured automobile.

Renewals and changes

A policy may be renewed on or after July 1, 2026. If so, the optional benefits, as they read immediately before that date, are deemed to continue in the amounts previously payable under the contract. That changes only if the named insured and the insurer agree in writing that the named insured declines a benefit or changes an amount. For a policy entered into before July 1, 2026, the named insured and the insurer may agree in writing to change these optional benefits.

An optional benefit may be purchased at any time before an accident for which an application for benefits is made. When a person purchases one, the insurer must issue the endorsement in the form approved by FSRA's Chief Executive Officer. FSRA lists that form as "OPCF 47R: Optional accident benefits coverage & priority of payment".

Other health coverage

Generally, under subsection 47(2): "Payment of a medical, rehabilitation or attendant care benefit, or a benefit under Part IV or Part IV.1, is not required for that portion of an expense for which payment is reasonably available to the insured person under any insurance plan or law or under any other plan or law." For an accident in Ontario on or after July 1, 2026, subsection 47(2.1) makes an exception. It provides: "Despite subsection 47(2), payment of a medical or rehabilitation benefit, other than for medication expenses, for an accident that occurs in Ontario on or after July 1, 2026 is required for that portion of an expense for which payment is reasonably available to the insured person under a supplementary health insurance plan." That term means a group or individual plan for medical and rehabilitation coverage, including an employer or union employee benefits program.

Reviewing coverage

FSRA notes that its descriptions are a summary of the Schedule and should not be relied on alone. It suggests speaking with an insurer, agent or broker before making decisions about coverage.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident and have questions about accident benefits, you may email Wolf Law to schedule a consultation.

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Related: Accident benefits | Car accidents | Understanding Your Rights to Accident Benefits Even If You're at Fault

This article is general information about Ontario law as of November 12, 2026. It is not legal advice.

Sources: Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule — Effective September 1, 2010, O. Reg. 34/10, ss. 1, 2, 4.1, 7, 12-14, 18, 20, 20.1, 23, 25.1-30, 47 (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/100034); O. Reg. 383/24 (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r24383); O. Reg. 58/25 (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r25058); FSRA, What is in a standard auto insurance policy? (https://www.fsrao.ca/consumers/auto-insurance/purchasing-your-policy/what-standard-auto-insurance-policy); FSRA, Optional and extra coverage (https://www.fsrao.ca/consumers/auto-insurance/purchasing-your-policy/optional-and-extra-coverage); FSRA, Changes in Statutory Accident Benefits coverage in Ontario on July 1, 2026 (https://www.fsrao.ca/industry/auto-insurance/changes-statutory-accident-benefits-coverage-ontario-july-1-2026). All checked November 11, 2026.

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