Many Canadians who experience serious illness or injury find themselves facing unexpected out-of-pocket medical costs—even when they have insurance. If you’ve paid for care or treatment this year, you may be wondering: can you claim medical expenses covered by insurance on your tax return?  The answer depends on whether you were reimbursed, who paid for the expense, and whether the cost qualifies under the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) rules.  In this post, we’ll walk through what expenses are claimable, how insurance affects your tax credit, and how to calculate your eligible amount. We’ve drawn on the CRA’s official medical expense guidelines [...]

Wildfires and other extreme weather events made the Summer of 2024 the most destructive season in Canadian history for insured losses, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).   With over $7 billion in insured losses, the record setting Summer of last year needs to be taken in context; as the IBC notes, extreme weather only figures to get worse in the future, and the efforts to coordinate and invest in climate adaptation have been overshadowed by discussions around emissions. It boils down to this: More Canadians will be filing fire insurance claims and other property insurance claims as a result [...]

When an illness or injury keeps you from working—or when a car accident suddenly turns your life upside down—insurance should offer a safety net. It’s meant to be there when you need support the most. But for many people in Ontario, the experience is anything but simple. Instead of getting help quickly, they’re met with long delays, vague explanations, and increasing frustration. How long do insurance claims take? The answer depends on several factors, including the type of claim, type of injuries, how the insurer handles the file, and whether everything is submitted on time. In this post, we’ll walk you [...]

Applying for long-term disability insurance benefits is often something people do in the middle of a life-altering event. You’re not planning for it; you’re reacting to it. Maybe an accident threw your life off course, or a chronic illness has finally made it impossible to keep working. Whatever the reason, LTD insurance is supposed to be there to catch you. And it can be. But it’s also not a cure-all. There are limits, there are gaps, and there are misunderstandings—some of them built right into the policies themselves. Before you file your claim—or while you're wondering why benefits haven’t kicked in [...]

When the temperatures drop and Ontario’s roads turn slick with snow and ice, many drivers ask the same question: Are winter tires required by law in Ontario? No, there is no legal requirement to have winter tires installed on your vehicle, but there are other implications–for your safety and for insurance purposes–that you shouldn’t ignore.  At McNally Gervan LLP, we’ve seen firsthand how winter driving conditions contribute to serious collisions and insurance disputes. We’ve also seen how simple choices—like installing winter tires early—can reduce the risks of an accident and even affect your legal options in the unfortunate event of a [...]