As you’ve no doubt recently experienced or heard, Canadians are driving their mouses to on-line shopping sites in greater numbers. Consumers are looking, comparing and buying stuff for a number of reasons which include: saving time, perceived and real savings, convenience and thrill. If you have yet to conduct a purchase over the internet, chances are that you will in the near future, so the following is a little something for you to consider.

According to Statistics Canada $28.3 billion of online sales were carried out in Canada in 2004.  With this much e-commerce going on, there is a real fear that individuals may be giving up sensitive information they shouldn’t.

Security and privacy issues can be confusing and difficult to understand. When was the last time you went to a site to review these policies of the company you were thinking about transacting business with? Was there a privacy policy at all? Did you read it?

Before you blindly enter a site, here are some questions you may want to ask yourself:

•  Is knowing that the information you supply may be shared with other companies important to you?

•  Can you change your mind at a later date about the information you supplied?

•  Does the site use “cookies” or other ways to track your behaviour? Will the site work with cookies disabled?

• How does the company protect the information you have supplied them?

•  Does the company provide a question and answer section on their site giving you this level of comfort?

Companies wanting your business should provide you the answers you require at well-constructed web sites in helpful and easy to understand language. But remember, it’s up to you to do the research.

Be informed before you transact! For additional helpful information try the Ontario Privacy Commissioner at www. ipc.on.ca and go to the “If you wanted to know” section.

There are 8 components to this coverage

1. Income Replacement
2. Medical, Rehabilitation and Attendant Care: for Non-Catastrophic Injuries
3. Medical, Rehabilitation and Attendant Care: for Catastrophic Injuries
4. Housekeeping and Home Maintenance Expenses
5. Caregiver Benefits
6. Dependant Care
7. Death and Funeral Benefits
8. Indexation

Auto Reform

Firstly, it is important that you understand that the coverage you (and those insured by your policy) are eligible for depends on the classification of your injuries.
Please familiarize yourself with the following terms:

Catastrophic Injury – These are injuries resulting in long term or permanent disabilities; Examples would include paralysis, amputation, loss of vision, brain or spinal injuries. It is important to note, currently only 1% of Automobile Accident injuries qualify as “Catastrophic”

Minor Injury – Accident injuries such as strains, sprains, whiplash, minor cuts and bruises. All “Minor Injury” claims are capped at $3,500 inclusive of assessment fees.

Non Catastrophic Injury – Those injuries falling between Catastrophic and those considered as Minor Injuries.

1. Income Replacement
If you’re unable to return to work and earn a living after a car accident, the income replacement portion of your Accident Benefits provides 70% of your gross income up to a maximum of $400 per week.

• Your choices: You can opt to increase your weekly maximum to $600, $800 or $1,000 per week.

2. Medical, Rehabilitation and Attendant Care: for Non-Catastrophic Injuries

For Medical and Rehabilitation Expenses (like physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment and dental expenses) the new standard coverage will be $50,000. Keep in mind, if your injury is considered minor, no matter what level of coverage your choose, your medical and rehabilitation accident benefits will be limited to $3,500.

• Your choices: You can increase this limit to $100,000 or $1,100,000.

For Attendant Care (say you needed to hire someone to help you in the home as a result of injuries from an accident) coverage will be $36,000.

• Your choices: You can increase this limit to $72,000 or $1,072,000.

3. Medical, Rehabilitation and Attendant Care: for Catastrophic Injuries

For Medical and Rehabilitation Expenses, the new standard coverage for medical and rehabilitation expenses will be $1,000,000.

• Your choices: You can opt to increase the limit by $1,000,000.

For Attendant Care, coverage will be $1,000,000.

• Your choices: You can opt to increase the limit by $1,000,000.

4. Housekeeping and Home Maintenance
If, as a result of a car accident, you need to hire someone to help you clean and otherwise upkeep your home, the housekeeping and home maintenance benefits portion of your policy provides up to $100 per week. This is available to only those with Catastrophic injuries.

• Your choices: You can opt to extend this coverage so that it applies to all injuries, not just those deemed Catastrophic.

5. Caregiver Benefit
If you provide full-time care to dependants, and are disabled as the result of a car accident, the caregiver benefits portion of your policy provides $250 per week for one dependant, plus $50 per week for each additional dependant. This is available to only those with Catastrophic injuries.

• Your choices: You can opt to extend this coverage so that it applies to all injuries, not just those deemed Catastrophic.

6. Dependant Care
This is an optional benefit that, if taken, will help to offset the cost of child care expenses in the event you are in an accident. Coverage is not included in the standard policy.

• Your choices: You can opt to include this into your Accident Benefits package. The benefit offers up to $75 per week for the first dependant and $25 per week for each additional dependant. There is a $150 weekly maximum.

7. Death and Funeral
No one likes to think of the worst, but if you die as a result of an automobile accident, the standard amount which will be paid is $25,000 to your eligible spouse, $10,000 for each dependant, and a maximum of $6,000 for funeral expenses.

• Your choices: You can opt to increase the amount going to your spouse to $50,000; $20,000 to each dependant child, and $8,000 towards funeral expenses.

8. Indexation
This is an optional benefit that, if taken, will annually adjust the amounts available when eligible to receive income replacement, non-earner, caregiver, attendant care and medical and rehabilitation benefits.

• Your choices: You can opt to include this into your Accident Benefits package. The benefit annually adjusts the amounts available according to the Canadian Consumer Price Index.

Non-Accident Benefits related changes
There are other important changes in the Ontario auto insurance reforms. Some of these changes may affect the next policy you purchase, but others may change, improve or enhance your experience when getting quotes, submitting claims or getting treatment.

Some notable examples include:

Third Party Liability deductible options
Third-party liability offers coverage to policyholders who are sued and held legally liable for injuring or killing someone or damaging his or her property. If you are sued, there is a deductible; a person can now opt for a $20,000 deductible ($10,000 for claims from family members).

• Your choices: You can choose a deductible of $20,000 ($10,000 for claims from family members) or $30,000 ($15,000 for claims from family members.)

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein represents a brief outline of the terms, conditions and options provided for by this legislation. Please consult the Financial Service Commission of Ontario for complete information www.fsco.gov.on.ca