One major issue is that the amount that auto insurance companies pay for services has essentially been frozen for a decade. The fees are set by FSRA through the professional services guideline and have not been updated since 2014.
At the same time as revenue has been flat, expenses have gone up. Anthony Grande, a registered physiotherapist and owner of Toronto chain Focus Physiotherapy, said his rent has tripled and salaries have doubled since 2000, while the fee he can get from an auto insurer for a one-hour session has gone up modestly to $99.75 from $84.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada said it is focused on working with the government to lower auto insurance rates, and the amount paid to professionals is out of its hands. The Ontario government, which said it had no hand in changing what professionals are charged, indicated it is open to changing the amount it collects from insurers itself.
From the perspective of the professionals, making auto insurers pay first would cut down on the onerous paperwork involved in juggling two insurance providers, Mr. Grande said. But more important, it could mean patients aren’t maxing out their workplace plans, which can affect the treatment they and their families get, as well as increasing the premiums paid by them and their employers, he said.
Breaking: insurance companies don’t actually want to pay out claims 🙄