Alberta Care-First

Alberta’s new Care-First auto insurance system comes into effect January 1, 2027


Alberta's Care-First model is the first of its kind in Canada. Today, accident victims sue at-fault parties for injuries, including pain and suffering. Under Care-Fist, drivers will seek benefits from their own insurer. The ability to sue will be limited to specific circumstances.


No action is currently required by clients, including those with upcoming renewals. Every driver in the province will automatically move to the new system on January 1, 2027. Any premium impact will be reflected in your next renewal.


Care-First will apply to all accidents involving an injury that occur on or after January 1, 2027. Any auto accidents that occur before January 1, 2027 will be handled under the current court-based system.


Learn more about the upcoming changes with the resources on this page.


What’s changing with Care-First

With the Care-First system, auto insurance will focus on providing Albertans with support and recovery resources sooner, rather than waiting for compensation through the current court-based system. This means that if you are injured in an accident, you can receive care and work towards recovery sooner. Care-First represents a significant shift in how the auto insurance industry approaches injury management and benefit delivery for Albertans injured in a car accident.

Care-First introduces improved medical treatment, rehabilitation, and income support for Albertans injured in an accident. For serious, lasting injuries, a one-time permanent impairment benefit will provide compensation, serving a similar purpose to pain and suffering damages in the current system.

If you’re injured in an accident, you’ll receive immediate access to medical care, rehabilitation and support with the Care-First system, allowing you to focus on getting better and not on litigation.

By switching to the Care-First system, Albertans injured in an auto accident will receive evidence-based care and enhanced benefits through their auto insurance. The system helps support recovery, improves outcomes, and helps manage costs, without the need to sue.


Updated and new accident benefits will be introduced as part of the Care-First system. Upon being injured in a car accident, these accident benefits will be available to all drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists, regardless of fault.


What accident benefits are included in Care-First?


  • Medical and Rehabilitation
  • Personal Care Assistance
  • Income Replacement
  • Caregiver Weekly Indemnity
  • Childcare Expense Reimbursement
  • Permanent Impairment Reimbursement
  • Funeral Benefit
  • Death Benefit

Learn more about how Care-First accident benefits’ coverage compares to Alberta’s existing accident benefits.


What types of policies does the Care-First system apply to?


  • Auto (cars, SUVs, trucks, and vans)
  • Collector cars
  • Motorcycles
  • Motorhome
  • Recreational vehicles – ATV, snowmobiles, 4x4 (side-by-side)
  • Commercial and farm vehicles


What is staying the same?

While the Care-First system is bringing some large changes to Alberta’s auto insurance system, some important parts of the system will remain the same:


  • Direct Compensation for Property Damage (DCPD) – DCPD will continue to apply, which means that when you are not at fault, your vehicle damages will still be handled through your own insurer under this coverage.
  • Out-of-province claims – Any claims made when you are out-of-province will continue to follow the rules and agreements that apply between jurisdictions.
  • Fault still matters – Fault must still be determined after a car accident, and those involved must still report the accident to their insurer. Policy exclusions will still apply. Drivers who cause accidents will be held accountable through their insurance pricing, so at-fault drivers can expect impacts to their annual premiums.

 

If you have further questions about the new Care-First auto insurance system, please contact us at 1-877-972-7248. For renewals after January 1, you can contact us within 60 days of your renewal date and we’d be happy to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Care-First takes effect on January 1, 2027. For bodily injury and accident benefits, the system that applies will depend on the date of the accident, not when the insurance policy was purchased.

If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident on or after January 1, 2027, your claim will be handled under Care-First. You will access benefits through your own insurer, regardless of who was at fault.

In most cases, Care-First claims will be handled through the insurance system without the need to go to court. This means that with the Care-First system, Albertans can sue only under specific circumstances:
 
  • Pain and Suffering – Albertans may sue for pain and suffering damages if the at-fault driver is convicted of specific Criminal Code offences or Traffic Safety Act offences, including impaired driving.
  • Financial losses beyond insurance limits – Albertans may have the ability to sue the at-fault driver for financial compensation if their out-of-pocket expenses exceed policy maximums.

Yes. Under Care-First, Albertans will still be required to report collisions to their insurer. If you are injured, you will access Care-First benefits through your own insurer.

If the accident involving an injury happened before January 1, 2027, the claim will continue to be handled under the existing court-based system. A claim will not move from the existing system to Care-First, or vice versa.

Yes. Under Care-First, people injured in motor vehicle accidents will access benefits through their own insurer regardless of fault. This is one of the key differences from the existing court-based system.

Our claims team is here to help you navigate making a claim should you get into an accident. Your case manager will be the primary point of contact for your claim. Their responsibilities include confirming your eligibility, explaining benefits, coordinating and funding approved care, and communicating decisions.

As your trusted insurance advisor, we’re here to help you understand your coverage and the Care-First system changes. Our expert insurance brokers provide guidance when purchasing or renewing your insurance. For claims and support after an accident, our claims support team is here to help you navigate making your claim.

You can learn more from the Government of Alberta by visiting their Care-First Auto Insurance page. Learn more about what to do when you get into an accident.


Last updated October 30, 2026.