Tara Miller, Q.C. March 2021
Section B provides coverage for all reasonable medical and rehabilitation expenses incurred as a result of an injury in a car accident within four years of the accident date up to a total of $50,000 a person.
Section B benefits can include:
- Medical services
- Surgical services
- Dental services
- Chiropractic services
- Hospital services
- Professional nursing services
- Ambulance services
- Any other service insured under the Health Service and Insurance Act
- Any other services and supplies, which are, in the opinion of the injured person’s doctor and that of the insurer’s medical advisor (physician – not adjuster), essential for the treatment, occupational retraining or rehabilitation of the injured person, to the $50,000 limit, which can include:
- Travelling expenses for medical treatment or physiotherapy
- Hospital telephone rental
- Hair transplants
- Physiotherapy
- Massage therapy
- Replacement eyeglasses where glasses were damaged in accident
- Additions to the home of the parents of a quadriplegic
Sometimes injuries sustained in a car accident require further specialized medical investigation to ensure proper treatment is received. This investigation can include a MRI. However, with significant wait times for a MRI in the Nova Scotia public health care system, those who have been injured in a car accident may have to wait an inordinate period to have accident injuries properly investigated with a MRI. Some of our personal injury clients have received appointment times for an accident related MRI 2-4 years in the future… It is easy to see how the benefit of early intervention to assist with timely recovery is lost when a car accident victim must wait for such a prolonged time!
In situations where your family doctor or specialist has recommended a MRI for investigation into your accident injury (head, shoulder, knee, etc.), our Halifax lawyers can work with the Section B insurer to have them consider the cost of a MRI at a private clinic which can provide a MRI appointment in 1-2 weeks. Early investigation results in early treatment which facilitates an earlier recovery.
Further information about Section B benefits is available in these blog posts:
- https://www.mdwlaw.ca/personal-injury-what-are-section-b-benefits-who-is-entitled-to-them/
- https://www.mdwlaw.ca/personal-injury-section-b-medical-expense-and-income-loss-benefits/
If you have any questions about Section B benefits and/or whether the cost of your accident-related MRI through a private MRI clinic might be covered under Section B, then please call one of Halifax lawyers for a free consultation.