Care-First Auto Insurance: Therapy After a Car Accident

Starting January 1, 2027, injuries from car collisions in Alberta are covered by a new auto insurance system called Care-First. If you're hurt in a collision, it changes how you get help, including therapy.

Car accidents affect more than your body. After a motor vehicle accident (MVA), a lot of people notice they're anxious behind the wheel, jumpy at sudden sounds, sleeping badly, or replaying the moment over and over. That's your body's alarm system trying to keep you safe, and it happens even after small accidents. You can read more in PTSD After a Car Accident.

Here's what Care-First changes, what it might mean for therapy, and what to do if you're in an accident.

If you're a therapist, see the article Care-First Auto Insurance for Therapists in Alberta.

What is Care-First auto insurance?

Care-First is Alberta's new auto insurance system for accidents on or after January 1, 2027.

It applies to every auto policy in Alberta automatically, so there's nothing you need to do right now. If your accident happened before January 1, 2027, the current system still applies.

Under Care-First, you get benefits through your own insurer instead of mostly through lawsuits. If you disagree with a decision your insurer makes about your care, you can appeal to a new independent tribunal.

What changes for accident benefits

Insurers have started mailing out summaries of the changes. Here's how one insurer, Intact, lays them out.

Eligibility, definitions and limits apply, and the Government of Alberta sets the maximum amounts. They go up with inflation every year, so these 2027 figures are a little higher than the 2025 figures on alberta.ca.

Medical and rehabilitation

Right now, medical and rehabilitation benefits cover up to $50,000 over 2 years. Under Care-First, they cover all reasonable medical and rehabilitation expenses, with no limit, until you reach maximum recovery.

Permanent impairment

The current model doesn't include this benefit. Under Care-First, people with catastrophic injuries can receive up to $306,580.

Income replacement

Right now, income replacement is up to $31,200 a year for 2 years. Under Care-First, it's 90% of your net income, calculated on gross income up to $128,000 a year, until about age 65, or five years after the accident if that's later.

Funeral costs

Funeral costs are covered up to $6,150 now, and up to $10,586 under Care-First.

Payments to family after a death

Payments to family after a death range from $10,000 to $25,000 now, and from $33,978 to $615,000 under Care-First.

Grief counselling for family

Grief counselling is $500 for the whole family now. Under Care-First, it's up to $4,426 per person.

What Care-First means for therapy

The biggest change for mental health care is that treatment isn't capped anymore. Right now, psychological treatment comes out of the same $50,000 medical and rehabilitation benefit as all your other care, for up to 2 years.

Under Care-First, medical and rehabilitation benefits cover reasonable expenses until you reach maximum recovery. The Alberta government says that includes psychologist visits, with no fixed cap, as long as the care is helping you recover.

A few things are still worth knowing:

• Reasonable is decided by your insurer. If you disagree with a decision about your care, you can appeal to the tribunal.
• Coverage can depend on who you see. Alberta hasn't announced which mental health practitioners can do assessments under Care-First yet. Ask your insurer who's covered before you book.
• Grief support is much stronger. If someone dies in a crash, each family member can get up to $4,426 for grief counselling, up from $500 for the whole family. It can come from a regulated professional like a psychologist or social worker, from clergy of your faith, or from an Indigenous Elder.

What to do after a car accident

1. Get safe and get checked. Call 911 if anyone is hurt, and see a doctor even if you feel fine at first.
2. Tell your doctor about your physical and emotional symptoms. Nightmares, panic, driving anxiety and trouble concentrating are common after an MVA, and they're part of the injury too.
3. Contact your insurer soon. Starting your claim early gets you to treatment sooner. Common physical injuries, like neck and back pain or a concussion, go through a set Program of Care, which doesn't need insurer approval if it starts within 12 weeks of the accident.
4. Ask your insurer about therapy before you book. Therapy works differently: you need your insurer's approval before your first mental health appointment is covered by Care-First. Ask which professionals are covered. After the first assessment, your therapist sends your insurer a treatment plan, and the insurer has five days to decide to approve treatment.
5. Keep records. Save receipts, appointment dates, and notes about how you're feeling.

MVA Therapy in Alberta

If a car accident has left you shaken, reaching out for support can help.

MVA therapy offers a space to understand what your body and mind went through, and to feel safe on the road again.

A lot of people wait months after an accident before getting support, hoping the fear will go away on its own.

Sometimes it does. But when your body keeps reacting like the crash is still happening, support can help it learn you're safe now. A trauma-sensitive therapist moves at your pace, starting with what feels steady before going anywhere near the memory.

You can learn how to find a trauma-sensitive therapist on our Therapists page.

You don't have to carry this alone.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, medical, legal or financial advice. Your insurance policy and your insurer's decisions apply to your claim, so contact your insurer or broker about your coverage.

If you or someone you care about is in crisis or at risk of harm, please get help now. Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. You can also call or text 988 any time for suicide and crisis support. For more options, see our crisis support page.

About the Author

Carol Korenowski is a writer, speaker, and mental health advocate who created Therapy Alberta.