By Olivia McDonald

Direction For ICBC Regulations

Nov 10, 2018 | 9:58 AM

BRITISH COLUMBIA – The B-C Government has released regulations on the auto insurance product changes announced earlier this year, increasing care for injured people while helping ICBC return to financial sustainability.

The Government has enacted regulations that will put a new limit of 5,500 dollars on pain and suffering for minor injury claims. Attorney General David Eby announced the changes earlier this year and on Friday, signed off on 21 pages of regulations to make it official.   

The regulations establish items include:

* updated treatment fees and types of treatments covered by ICBC, such as acupuncture and counselling, effective April 1, 2019, for both new and existing claims;

* new and increased accident benefits, such as wage loss, will come into effect for accidents occurring on or after April 1, 2019;

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* the complete definition of a minor injury as it relates to payouts for pain and suffering, building on the legislated definition;

* treatment protocol guidelines for examination, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of minor injuries to provide more consistent care for people injured in a crash; and

* using registered care advisors as a new resource to support physicians.

These changes to ICBC’s accident benefits will cost an estimated $200 million annually. This will be offset by an estimated saving of $1.2 billion per year through reduced legal costs, a limit on payouts for pain and suffering for minor injuries and a new dispute resolution model, resulting in projected net savings of $1 billion annually. The corporation has been gripped by a financial crisis and Eby says the changes are necessary to help address the massive growth in the cost of injury claims.