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Did you know the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule is included with all automobile policies and has accident benefits in Ontario?
An injury from a car accident can cause physical and financial damage. Statutory Accident Benefits ensure you get the healthcare and financial support you need when you need it the most.
This blog will discuss what the SABS is and its role in an accident benefits claim.
The Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule, also referred to as SABS, is a form of no-fault insurance. It is mandatory and included as standard automobile coverage.
If you get into a collision, your provincial health plan (OHIP) covers basic emergency room care or doctor visits. However, OHIP doesn't cover extended physical therapy, private nursing, or long-term lost income. That is where SABS applies.
Your auto insurance provider is the first payor for medical or rehabilitation claims (with the exception of prescription medications). This means if you are hurt in a crash, your SABS coverage will cover you first, preserving your workplace or private extended health benefits for other life events.
Navigating SABS shouldn't feel like guesswork. From standard medical rehabilitation limits to custom optional top-ups, we help you secure the exact protection your household needs at Ontario's best rates.
Standard auto insurance in Ontario covers basic medical care, but income replacement benefits are now completely optional to buy. Deciding which of these optional coverages to add back into your policy will heavily affect your overall premium.
To see how this works, imagine Sarah, a freelancer who earns $1,200 a week. To save a few hundred dollars on her insurance premium, she decides to decline the optional Income Replacement coverage when renewing her policy.
Later, Sarah is injured in a crash and cannot work for two months. While her insurance fully pays for her physiotherapy, she receives $0 a week for her lost wages because she opted out of that specific coverage. If she had paid a little extra for the default optional benefit, she would have received $400 a week, or up to $1,000 a week if she had chosen to maximize her limits.
Under Regulation 383/24, medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care benefits will remain mandatory. However, several benefits that were previously automatically included, such as income replacement, non-earner benefits, and caregiver benefits, will become optional.
Under the new SABS reform, optional coverages will be limited to the named insured, their spouse and dependents (or spouse's dependents), and any drivers specifically listed on the policy. This change means that many individuals who currently have access to benefits, such as pedestrians, cyclists, or passengers without their own policy or not listed, may find themselves without coverage for numerous benefits unless optional coverages are purchased.
If you are thinking about changing your SABS coverage, take a look at this IBC checklist to help you consider which optional benefits may be right for you or others covered under your policy.
When shopping for Ontario car insurance after July 1, 2026, only basic medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care are automatically included. All other Statutory Accident Benefits (SABS) are now completely optional additions, including:
If you choose to purchase any of these optional top-ups, the extra coverage only applies to you, your spouse, your dependants, and listed drivers on your policy. Passengers who do not fit into those categories will only receive baseline, mandatory medical care.
Suppose you suffer a catastrophic injury (loss of limb, brain damage, paralysis) due to an auto accident, you will be provided with up to $1 million combined for medical, rehab, and attendant care under the mandatory coverage.
While the standard mandatory coverage applies to anyone severely injured in the vehicle, the extra optional top-up (increasing it to $2 million) only applies to the specific people named on the policy, such as a spouse, dependents, or listed drivers on your policy.
If an unlisted passenger (like a friend, neighbor, or coworker) or a pedestrian is catastrophically injured by your car, they will only have access to the mandatory $1 million limit. They will not be able to access your $2 million optional top-up.
Notify your insurer as soon as possible after an accident to inform them of any injuries related to an auto accident. Your insurer will provide you with forms to complete and return. You apply for SABS as part of your car accident claim.
Your private auto insurance company pays these benefits directly. As of July 1st, there are exclusions to certain individuals, such as cyclists, pedestrians, and some passengers, may no longer be covered under accident benefits.
This is a chart that outlines the available benefits and coverage limits under SABs. They were revised on June 1, 2016. See the full revised list on the FSCO website.
Yes. If your life circumstances change (such as changing jobs, losing workplace benefits, or having a child) you can call ThinkInsure to add or adjust your optional SABS coverages. However, keep in mind that only the coverage limits active at the time of the accident can be applied to a claim.
If you decline the optional benefits, you will only be entitled to the mandatory medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care limits if you are injured. If you lose your income or require home care, you will have to rely entirely on private workplace disability plans, independent life insurance policies, or pay out-of-pocket.
Effective July 1, 2026, optional Accident Benefits will exclusively cover the named insured, their spouse, dependents, and listed drivers. Injured passengers will only receive standard benefits unless they qualify under these specific categories.
The SABS is part of the Insurance Act in Ontario. You can review the statutory accident benefits schedule here.
With income replacement and non-earner benefits shifting to optional add-ons, your standard auto insurance policy looks very different this year. If you get hurt, relying solely on baseline mandatory medical care could put your financial stability at risk.
We will look at your current lifestyle, employment status, and family needs to ensure you have the exact right amount of protection, without paying for extras you don't need.
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Digital Content Writer
Kayla-Jane has been a content writer with ThinkInsure since 2020. She creates insurance content for auto, home, and commercial. Kayla-Jane has a diploma in Journalism.
| Categories | Industry NewsAuto |
|---|---|
| Tags | Auto CoverageNewsFAQsAccidents |
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