New changes to the standard Ontario auto insurance policy were characterized this week as “mean spirited” by the New Democratic Party’s consumer services critic, though the Insurance Bureau of Canada suggests that one amendment that took effect Feb. 1 did not actually change an auto injury victim’s entitlement to attendant care from professional health support workers.
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Trial lawyers express concerns
“This is an access to justice issue,” he said. “The preservation of the court system is a fundamental principle in protecting the rights of innocent victims.”
“Justice Cunningham mentioned that possibly the option to go to court would still exist. In his recommendations he doesn’t say anything more about it other than to say once this enhanced settlement meeting has occurred the option would be taken away.”
Toronto rehab clinic ordered to pay $75,000 in fines in auto insurance fraud case
A Toronto clinic has been ordered to pay $75,000 in fines this week, after its principals pleaded guilty to engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the business of insurance related to auto insurance fraud, the Insurance Bureau of Canada reported Thursday. http://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/news/toronto-rehab-clinic-ordered-to-pay-75-000-in-fines-in-auto-insurance-fraud-case/1002950025/
DRS report is too weak, accident victims group FAIR says
“Yet this issue is central to the very reason for the recent mediation backlog — too many cases indiscriminately turned down by insurers based on questionable medical reports. The possible recourse that ‘the expert should not receive compensation for appearing as a witness’ if their evidence is not ‘fair, objective or non-partisan’ does nothing to protect accident victims.” DRS report is too weak Thompsons World Insurance News Mar 3 2014
New Legislation to Protect Ontario Drivers, Improve the Auto Insurance System and Continue to Reduce Rates
Ontario is introducing new initiatives to protect the nine million drivers in the province and reduce costs and uncertainty in the auto insurance system. Reducing costs will help lower rates for Ontario drivers.
Bill 171 March 4 2014 or the FIGHTING FRAUD AND REDUCING AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE RATES ACT, 2014
http://www.ontla.on.ca/bills/bills-files/40_Parliament/Session2/b171.pdf
570 News – Fraud Month
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570 News March 5 2014
Steven Del Duca, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance, Re: Ontario’s governing Liberals have introduced legislation that they say will help reduce auto insurance rates, even though they’re not mandating a cut to premiums. Finance Minister Charles Sousa says rates have dropped 5% on average across Ontario and will fall further to the 15% target if the bill passes. He says the legislation will combat fraud, make it easier to settle disputes and curb costs. Critics point out Ontario made regulatory changes in 2010 that greatly reduced costs for the insurance industry, but those savings have not been passed along to drivers.
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570 News Tuesday Mar. 4, 2014
Rick Dubin, Vice President of Investigations at Insurance Bureau of Canada, Re: March is Fraud Prevention Month and the IBC is taking aim at a number of issues that hurt insurers and Canadians. Staged collisions. Unscrupulous auto repair shops. False medical claims. Fake auto theft. Padding an otherwise legitimate claims. These are just some of the insurance scams that criminals commit.
Financial Services Commission of Ontario Launches Fraud Prevention Month Campaign
TORONTO, March 5, 2014 /CNW/ – The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) has launched new resources and is taking part in activities throughout Fraud Prevention Month to educate consumers about auto insurance fraud. http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1317525/financial-services-commission-of-ontario-launches-fraud-prevention-month-campaign
Ontario government plans to move auto insurance dispute resolution system out of FSCO
The Ontario government is introducing legislation that would move administration of the current dispute resolution system for auto insurance claims from the Financial Services Commission of Ontario to the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Licence Appeal Tribunal.
Ontario moves to crack down on insurance fraud
Mr. Sousa said he will also consider creating a new “fraud squad” – a special group of investigators and prosecutors to go after fraudsters.
Liberals target auto-insurance fraud in bid to drop premiums
Moving files from one office to another isn’t enough, said Ralph Palumbo of the Insurance Bureau of Canada. The government needs to provide more resources so the “crazy” backlog of about 16,000 cases can be eliminated.