FAIR Submission on Third Party Reports and Medical Experts: Reports and Testimony
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Why are Ontarians possibly overpaying billions in auto insurance?
“The companies being regulated expend a lot of money on lobbying and government relations and are able to convince regulators to tread lightly. Politicians are afraid to call the positions of insurance companies…So they take the safe route. I think regulators should call their bluff.”
Average premiums per vehicle have increased by 2.4 per cent between 2010 and 2018, while average claims per vehicle have declined by 10 per cent, the report says.
The OTLA sought out economist Lazar to formulate estimates because insurance companies are not required to publicly report profits from their auto insurance operations in Ontario.
Since the amendments requiring insurance companies to cover the HST were approved June 3, at least two insurance companies — Intact and Belair Direct — publicly announced they will comply. But other major companies have resisted.
“The extent to which a handful of insurance heavyweights continue to thumb their noses at the regulator, the government and their own clients is appalling,” says Paul Harte, a Toronto lawyer who has filed class-action lawsuits against insurance companies. Though the filing of the suits predates the June 3 HST amendments, Harte alleges ongoing HST violations. “Without action to bring greater transparency and accountability to this industry, a number of players will continue to use their wealth and power to the detriment of victims and car drivers.”
As recently as Nov. 26, 2019, Aviva wrote a claimant advising “HST has been included in the limits on this claim.”
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