Motor Vehicle Accidents:
Each motor vehicle accident is different, and what we want to do it help
provide our patients with some direction on care that they have available to
them after being involved in a motor vehicle accident. Please use the
information as a general resource, and understand that the specifics related
to your particular accident and injury may vary and we always recommend that
you talk to us directly about your injuries.
Insurance Coverage:
Currently (July 1, 2012) in Alberta, everyone that is injured in a motor
vehicle accident is entitled to receive treatment for their injuries,
regardless of who is at fault for the accident. This coverage is
provided by the insurance company of the vehicle that you were in, at the
time of the accident. The majority of this coverage will fall under
either Minor Injury Protocols or Section B coverage.
If you were involved in a car accident, we recommend that you call our
office to make an appointment as soon as possible so we can full assess if
you have been injured and what care we feel would be most beneficial to you.
Once again, each accident is different - and the injuries related them are
also individual so it is important that you get answers specific to you.
Minor Injury Protocols and Section B Coverage:
Minor Injury Protocols: (MIP)
Under current legislation for Minor Injury accidents and the current $4600s
cap for personal injury, there is a portion that is directed at immediate
coverage for treatment of injuries.
Depending on your diagnosis patients are assigned either 10 (WAD 1,
Strain/Sprain) or 21 (WAD 2) total visits, that can be used for
Physiotherapy, Massage Therapy or Chiropractic. These visits are
directly billed to your insurance company, and is the first and only payer
for these visits. These visits have a 90 day time limit as well.
It is important to note to be eligible for MIP, you must report the accident
to your insurance, and get assessment within 10 business days of the
accident, and complete the Accident Benefit Form - AB-1.
Our office has been selected under these protocols to be one of their Injury
Management Consultants (IMC), which is a method / process of second opinion
for accident related injury and treatment.
Section B Coverage:
There is a part of your automobile insurance policy that is what is
responsible for covering the costs of the initial treatment related to your
automobile accident, and is accessed either after you have completed your
Minor Injury Protocol visits, if required, or if you don't originally
qualify for MIP.
In section B coverage, it is broken down by professional services and by
dollar amounts. The maximums for this area are $250 for massage
therapy, $600 for physical therapy, and $750 for chiropractic, with a 2 year
from date of accident time line.
Unlike MIP these benefits are accessed after we have exhausted any other
coverage for treatment, such as an extended health plan. Simply put, this
will cover what care your extended health plan does not cover. If you
don't have an extended health plan, then you can access Section B coverage
immediately. Patient's don't have a choice on accessing extended care
benefits first, which may not make sense but that is the rules of MVA
insurance.
Our office will work with your Section B insurance company, in attempt to
direct bill this amount for our patients, but not every company will accept
direct billing and depending on your coverage situation, sometimes it is
recommended that patients manage their own billing.
