February 27, 2026 - Bergeron Clifford LLP

If you have been injured in a car accident in Ontario, you are entitled to claim Statutory Accident Benefits through your own auto insurance company regardless of who was at fault.

However, accessing those benefits often requires completing detailed paperwork. One of the most important forms in any Ontario Accident Benefits claim is the Treatment and Assessment Plan (OCF-18).

You can review the official form here.

If you are searching for information about the “OCF-18 form”, “Accident Benefits treatment approval,” or “insurance denying physio after car accident,” this article can help you understand your rights under Ontario’s Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS).

What Is the OCF-18 Form?

The OCF-18 is the document your health care provider submits to your auto insurance company to request approval for medical treatment and rehabilitation services after a motor vehicle accident in Ontario.

Under the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS), treatment plans must be approved by the insurer before they will be paid. In simple terms, the OCF-18 is a funding request. Treatment must be approved by the insurer first beforehand. Without an approved OCF-18, your insurance company may refuse to pay for treatment for things like:

There are some limited medical benefits that do not require an OCF-18 to be submitted. Those are things like:

ambulance or other goods or services provided on an emergency basis not more than 5 business days after the accident;
drugs prescribed by a regulated health professional
dental goods or services (submitted on the Standard Dental Claim Form)
The following items with a cost of $250 or less each, so long as the expenses are reasonable and necessary as a result of the injuries sustained:
- prescription eyewear;
- dentures and other dental devices;
- hearing aids, wheelchairs or other mobility devices, prostheses, orthotics and other assistive devices;
- workplace modifications and workplace devices, including communications aids, to accommodate the needs of the insured person;
- home modifications and home devices, including communications aids; and
- vehicle modifications.

Where available, it is always advisable to contact the insurance company adjuster handling your claim to make sure they will reimburse you for planned medical expenses related to your Ontario accident claim.

What Information Does the OCF-18 Include?

The Treatment and Assessment Plan is more than a simple request. It includes:

A description of your accident-related injuries and diagnoses (Part 6)
Details about prior or pre-existing conditions that could affect recovery (Part 7)
Information about how your injuries impact work or daily activities (Part 8)
Clear treatment goals such as pain reduction, increased strength, or return to work (Part 9)
A breakdown of the proposed treatment plan, number of visits, duration, and total cost (Part 12)

Your insurance adjuster must respond within 10 business days, either approving, partially approving, or denying the plan. If they fail to respond to the treatment plan within 10 days, then they are liable to pay for any of the proposed treatment that is provided on the 11^th day and ongoing until they respond as required by the SABS timelines.

Who Completes the OCF-18?

You complete the personal and insurance information in Parts 1 and 2 and sign the consent section in Part 10.

A regulated health professional such as a physician, physiotherapist, chiropractor, psychologist, occupational therapist, or speech-language pathologist must complete and certify the medical sections of the form confirming that the proposed treatment is reasonable and necessary as a result of the accident.

What If the OCF-18 Is Denied?

Many injured people in Ontario are surprised when their insurance company denies or partially approves treatment. Insurers may argue that treatment is not “reasonable and necessary” or may require you to attend an insurer examination.

A denial is not the end of the process. You have legal rights. You may be able to challenge the decision and secure the medical benefits you need. There is typically a two year window to appeal the denial.

If you are dealing with a denied OCF-18, delayed Accident Benefits payments, or questions about your medical treatment after a car accident, Bergeron Clifford LLP can help.

We serve folks in Ottawa, Kingston, Pembroke, Cornwall, Durham, Peterborough and beyond. As personal injury lawyers, we offer free consultations to unrepresented accident victims across Ontario. We explain the Accident Benefits system in plain language and fight to ensure you receive the compensation and medical treatment you are entitled to under the law in Ontario.

There is no fee to speak with us and no obligation. If you have questions about your OCF-18, a denied OCF-18 or your Accident Benefits claim, let’s chat.

What Is the OCF-18 Form?

What Information Does the OCF-18 Include?

Who Completes the OCF-18?

What If the OCF-18 Is Denied?

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