ICBC Physiotherapy - What You Need to Know About Enhanced Care Coverage

In 2021, the British Columbia government introduce a new, care-based insurance model for the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC).

It will include Enhanced Care coverage ensuring that any British Columbian injured in a crash has significantly enhanced recovery benefits – especially if you have complex and catastrophic injuries that significantly impact your life. This new model will build upon its 2019 changes to accident benefits.

Under Enhanced Care coverage, anyone hurt in a crash will get significantly more care, recovery and wage loss benefits than they receive today. These benefits will replace the basic coverage that anyone insured by ICBC receives today.

And it won’t matter who was responsible for the accident – the goal of these benefits is healing. The record of the driver at fault will still be affected, but that is separate from the available benefits. The protection also extends to pedestrians, passengers and cyclists who are injured in a crash.

Under the new system, your recovery benefits could last a lifetime if the injury demands it — or as long as they are needed. A patient will be able to choose the medical professional overseeing his/her/their care and that individual will work with other health-care professionals to develop a personal recovery plan.

The care and recovery benefit will increase by 24 per cent, with anyone who is injured eligible for up to $7.5 million over a lifetime, rather than the current $300,000. This sum will be indexed to inflation, so it will continue to be appropriate over time.

The benefit will cover treatments such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic and massage, as well as dental care, counselling and medical devices or equipment. If you have complex recovery needs or will have a different level of function than pre-injury, you will have the services you need to maximize your recovery and future opportunities.

This new benefit ceiling will be especially important if you are seriously or catastrophically injured in a crash and your care needs are likely to last much longer, or if your injury impacts your daily life. It can cover such things as:

• alterations needed to your vehicle or home such as a ramp, stair lift or bathroom alterations; or
• travel and accommodation expenses when you need to travel out of town for appointments.

You won’t need to panic about your income, either. If you are unable to work due to your injuries, you’ll get 60 cent more in wage loss payments: a maximum of $1,200 weekly, up from $740 under the current system – this corresponds to a maximum annual gross income of $93,400.

If you’re self-employed, a student, family caregiver or retiree, you’ll also have access to new benefits to cover income, time lost from studies or increased expenses. If your annual income is higher than the maximum, you will have the option to purchase additional coverage to give them higher wage loss limits.

What else is included? There is up to $4,800 monthly available for personal care expenses – more, if the injury is catastrophic. It is available to assist with personal tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating, meal preparation and house cleaning.

Those injured can also receive reimbursement up to $4,000 every two years, depending on the severity of the injury, for recreational activities that now require extra support.

The new model is slated for introduction in May 2021. The B.C. government has consulted with a variety of health-care professionals, as well as citizens, to update the existing model.

Here’s what Christine Bradstock, CEO of the Physiotherapy Association of B.C., has to say about it:

In a little more than six months, this coverage will be yours – but let’s hope you never need it.