Ontario Accident Benefits Changed on July 1, 2026. Here Is What It Means If You Are Hurt
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Most articles about the 2026 auto insurance reform explain what to buy at renewal. This one is for people who are already injured, or who want to understand what support they would get after a crash.
What is still included in every Ontario auto policy
Standard medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits remain mandatory. Every Ontario auto policy still includes them, and they still apply on a no-fault basis. That means you can claim them from an insurer regardless of who caused the accident.
What became optional
For policies bought or renewed on or after July 1, 2026, most other accident benefits became optional. These include:
- Income replacement benefits
- Non-earner benefits
- Caregiver benefits
- Housekeeping and home maintenance benefits
- Dependant care benefits
- Death and funeral benefits
- Visitor expenses
- Lost educational expenses
- Damage to clothing, glasses, hearing aids and other personal items
- Indexation (inflation protection) and higher limits for medical, rehabilitation and attendant care
If your policy renewed before July 1, 2026, it renewed with the previous coverage. Under guidance from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA), insurers keep the pre-reform coverage at renewal unless the policyholder agrees in writing to change it. So two people in the same crash can have very different benefits depending on what their policy says.
Ontario accident benefits in 2026 at a glance
| Benefit | In every policy? | Standard limit |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and rehabilitation, minor injuries | Yes | $3,500 (Minor Injury Guideline) |
| Medical, rehabilitation and attendant care, non-catastrophic injuries | Yes | $65,000 combined |
| Medical, rehabilitation and attendant care, catastrophic injuries | Yes | $1,000,000 combined |
| Income replacement, non-earner, caregiver, housekeeping, dependant care, death and funeral, visitor, education, personal items | Optional since July 1, 2026 | Depends on what the policyholder bought |
The limits for the mandatory benefits did not change with the reform; HST is added on top (O. Reg. 34/10, s. 18). Higher limits can be bought as optional coverage.
Not sure which of these your policy includes?
We will check it with you →The change that affects pedestrians, cyclists and passengers most
This part applies from July 1, 2026, regardless of when a policy renews. The newly optional benefits now cover only the people named on the policy, their spouse and dependants, and listed drivers. They no longer extend to pedestrians or cyclists hit by that vehicle, or to certain passengers without their own coverage.
In practice, a pedestrian with no auto policy of their own can still claim medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits. Income replacement after a serious injury is another question, and the answer depends on the policies in the household. See what applies to pedestrians, cyclists and passengers.
Auto insurance now pays first for treatment
Since July 1, 2026, auto insurance is the first payer for medical and rehabilitation expenses, with the exception of medication (O. Reg. 34/10, s. 47 (2.1)). Medication is still paid first by a workplace or private health plan if you have one. Before the reform, injured people had to use workplace or private health benefits first. Now those workplace benefits stay available for other needs.
Three questions to answer right after an accident
- Which policy applies to you? Your own policy usually comes first. If you have none, a policy of a family member you live with may apply, then the policy of the vehicle involved. Here is the full order of insurers.
- When did that policy last renew? Before July 1, 2026, it likely includes the previous standard benefits. On or after that date, check which optional benefits were selected.
- What was your role in the accident? Driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist each lead to different coverage under the new rules.
Why this matters for your claim
The reform created more combinations of coverage, and insurers apply them strictly. A missed benefit or a wrong assumption about which policy applies can cost months of income support. The 7-day notice runs from the day of the accident, and the 30 days for the application run from the day the insurer sends you the forms.
Each of our pages for drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians has a free tool that walks through the new rules. Or book a free review: we look at your situation and tell you which benefits you can claim. Nothing to pay unless we win.
Frequently asked questions
Did the reform reduce benefits for accidents that happened before July 1, 2026?
Accident benefits are generally based on the policy in force on the date of the accident. Earlier accidents follow the rules of that time.
I was hit as a pedestrian. Am I covered?
Medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits remain available. Coverage for income loss depends on your household policies.
Did the reform lower the limits for medical and rehabilitation benefits?
No. The standard limits stayed the same: $3,500 for minor injuries, $65,000 for non-catastrophic injuries and $1,000,000 for catastrophic injuries. What changed is that most other benefits are no longer automatic.
Can I add optional benefits after an accident?
Coverage is set by the policy in force on the date of the accident, so changes made later apply only to future accidents.
VIA Legal Services Professional Corporation. Naira Velumyan is a Licensed Paralegal in Ontario (LSO #P21370). This article is general information, not legal advice for your specific situation.
Naira Velumyan is a Licensed Paralegal in Ontario and the principal of VIA Legal. She holds a PhD in psychology and is a Registered Psychotherapist, which shapes how she handles psychological injury claims. Read more about Naira