Quick Insurance question for our Canadian Friends...

[bgrubb7]

I was just reading through the infamous and longstanding Helmet Thread, and Fred's last Post got me thinking about something.

In Canada, with the national Health Care and all, does your car or bike insurance only cover property loss, or does your vehicle insurance reimburse the Govt. for the Health Care costs related to the accident?

[cokeman]

Not 100% sure but it is my understanding that the government health insurance covers the cost of medical treatment. Private insurance covers property loss. I may be wrong though. We are however able to sue for injuries sustained in an accident and the private(bike,car) insurance covers that

[bgrubb7]

Reason I ask is that I would think that Insurance rates would be substantially lower if the Medical costs were taken out of the picture.

[Ken Talbot]

In British Columbia, your insurance pays for the medical costs resulting from a vehicle accident. The basic, and mandatory, liability insurance is only available from the government insurance corporation, and it's not cheap. SWMBO and I pay something over $500 for each bike for 6 months of PLPD insurance with a 5 million limit. We could buy comprehensive insurance from the government corporation or from private companies, but the cost is totally out of line when you compare the cost of the premium with the value of the bikes.

[cokeman]

Ken: You gotta move to Alberta, Me and the wife pay 140.00 a year per bike for PLPD. with 1 mil coverage. Don't know why BC is so much.

[Ken Talbot]

It's the government insurance monopoly! The big difference here is the fact that a kid, i.e. a simgle male under 25 yrs, even with a brand new licence, pays pretty much the same premium as a 'mature' driver who has been driving forever. As you maintain an accident-free record, you can build up to a 40 or 45% discount, but the basic stuff is the same regardless of age, sex, etc. I understand a lot of youth in Alberta simply cannot afford to drive.

[cokeman]

That is unfortunatley true. I don't know how some of the younger people can afford to drive at all!

[mro]

It's the government insurance monopoly

thought you guys in the Great White North like Big Government Programs. You all did vote for it????



mro

[Just In Case]

Here on this side of the date line (Tomorrow Land ) we have no legal requirement for any insurance. We can't sue for personal injury

The funds for injuries comes from a payroll tax (higher rates for more dangerous jobs, with a levy for non work injuries), about half of the yearly vehicle registration fees of about NZ$290) (for bikes, cars are a bit cheaper due to the levy being less), and also 5.8 (NZ)cents per litre of petrol.

Rates are constantly being tweaked as each category is meant to be be self funding, ie car accidents and injuries have decreased, so the levy dropped for cars. But that doesn't take into account that cars are the prime cause of bike injuries.

David

[Artic_rider]

Wow ken, that is pricey. I pay 600 a month for two bikes, a quad, a car, a truck, and the house...switch to alberta plates and you can use my address as your new residential address...lol. Might save ya a wack of cash, so you can turn your back yard in the the first official year round xs 11 campground

For basic medical (at least here in alberta) doctors visits, hosptial fees and all that, it's covered by your monthly premium that you pay for health care (something like $85 for me, wife, and baby) It only covers the bare essentials though. That ambulance ride that you take to the hospital starts at $400, and then costs another $3 for every km the ambulance travels, as well as additional chargers for any narcotics administered, advanced airway procedurs, and cardiac monitoring. An average ride here in alberta costs roughly $600-$1200. To be covered for stuff like this, as well as other things including perscription drugs, dental and vision, you need additional coverage (Blue Cross) which runs a household about another $1200 a year. Most employers will usually pay for this, or subsidize it and offer you a lower price.

Your bike / car insurance covers the cost of damages caused by you, to other vehicals and property (PLPD) and for an added monthly fee, will replace your vehical if you crash it (Comprehensive coverage) Alberta health care, and alberta blue cross will attempt to recover losses (ie paying for your sick / hurt ass) if you were in an accident caused by another party.

so in other words ...

You crash, your falt... Government picks up the tab your medical expenses

You crash, idiots fault... Government picks up the bill, and idiots insurance reimburses the government, or your health care provider.

[84xj1100]

Well my fellow Canadians - welcome to my world (currently Manitoba)

For bare minimal coverage (PLPD 500K only = no collision or comprehensive) with a value of $2500 on the 82 XJ my premium this yr is $1,300.

Once again the gov monopoly but here there is an added bonus. They do not have cost recovery - meaning - with "no fault" insurance in ON should a cage hit me and "fault" is assigned at 100% to the cage, my insurance company would pay for my damages and persue the cage company for reimbursement.

In Manitoba, same scenerio, my damages would come out of the "motorcycle pot" and the cages damage would come out of the cage pot. Here's the clincher - If the cage is at "fault" why would they not pay my damages from the "cage pot"?? When that question is put to them MPI states "It's all one pot."

If you can figure that out, let me know.

By the way - medical coverage is part of the premium

Ed

[Meatloaf]

After a 20 year break from riding I just got 1M liability insurance on my '78 for $750/year in Ontario through my broker. Premmum wanted $1872??!! Not sure where universal health care fits into all of this, you'd think insurance would be cheaper....guess not.

Not great but I can live with it. The biggest challenge was just finding a company to insure a 25+ year old machine.

[xssiveone]

Originally posted by Meatloaf
After a 20 year break from riding I just got 1M liability insurance on my '78 for $750/year in Ontario through my broker. Premmum wanted $1872??!!

Not great but I can live with it. The biggest challenge was just finding a company to insure a 25+ year old machine.

Yes, what I am finding out here as well. Which company? No company here will cover it due to age.

[Meatloaf]

I'll find out from my broker who they went to and post it here.

[Meatloaf]

I haven't spoken to my broker yet but a company that quoted me $749 (I wasn't switching for $1) was JD Smith insurance. 1-800-917-7283. Try extension 202 ask for Joanne.