$1 million is the standard combined medical, rehabilitation and attendant-care limit for an Ontario auto claimant with a catastrophic impairment; the standard non-catastrophic limit is $65,000. The designation affects available treatment funding, but it is not an automatic $1 million cash payment. The claimant must satisfy the detailed tests in Ontario Regulation 34/10, section 3.1.
The assessment matters more than a label
The criteria cover specified permanent physical losses, vision loss, traumatic brain injury, whole-person impairment and mental or behavioural impairment under the tests set out in the regulation. A Glasgow Coma Scale score of 9 or a bare “55%” should not be offered as a universal shortcut for 2026 claims; the applicable section, age, timing and medical assessment matter. The FSRA OCF-19 form is used to apply for a determination.
A $935,000 difference in standard limits
Suppose Aisha needs years of rehabilitation after a collision. The standard combined cap could be $65,000 if she does not meet the catastrophic criteria, or $1 million if she does: a $935,000 difference in maximum available benefit. These figures are limits, not expected care costs. Higher optional caps of $1 million for non-catastrophic or $2 million for catastrophic cases may be available on some policies, so examine the actual coverage selected.
Verify the claim and policy
Do not infer catastrophic status from a diagnosis alone. Ask the insurer for its determination and the medical evidence used, and check appeal or dispute options if the decision is contested.
