Canada Newswire is urging Canadian drivers to renew their auto insurance before September 1st in order to keep medical benefits associated with their policies.

After the deadline, medical coverage will drop from $100,000 of medical coverage to $3,500 for all injuries classified as “minor” by the insurance industry, including whiplash. By renewing now, that $100,00 of medical coverage will stay with you for another year.

According to Consumer Advocate Lee Romanov, “By renewing now I’ve kept my $100,000 coverage for Medical Treatment 10 extra months.”

Medical coverage is not the only element of auto insurance affected by the cut to Accident Benefits that goes into force next week. $72,000 of Attendant Care, Housekeeping, and Care Giving Expenses have also been eliminated in the name of saving money, but, insurance experts say, the average savings is only 1%.

Romanov elaborates, “It’s adding insult to injury implying it’s a savings for consumers, when it’s obviously a savings for the insurance industry. I was paying $2,576 for my car insurance, I went online, found a rate for $1,634, cancelled my existing policy and had another policy issued. I’m keeping my $100,000 Medical Coverage an additional 10 months with a 36% rate decrease as opposed to the 1%. That’s a savings of $942 instead of $26.”