You are already worried about the pain in your knee, you shouldn’t have to worry about the pain in your wallet. The cost of physiotherapy is a concern for many. Not everyone can afford supplementary insurance and not all employers offer physiotherapy benefits. Government assistance programs vary from province to province.
Research has proven that people who seek therapy early after an injury have shorter recovery periods and are 8 times less likely to develop chronic pain. Don’t let the cost obstacle defeat you right out of the gate before you have looked into every possible option. Concentrate on your health, not the numbers. Here is the ultimate guide to help you manage physiotherapy fees. What are my payment options for Physiotherapy? How can I get physiotherapy for free?
Employer Insurance Benefits
Check with your employer to see what type of extended health coverage you are eligible for. Coverage varies from plan to plan but can range from $500 to $1500 per year for physiotherapy. You likely will be getting most of your physiotherapy for free!
Auto Insurance Coverage
If your injury is the result of a motor vehicle accident, file a claim with the auto insurance company to receive coverage for physiotherapy treatments. Depending on the plan, your coverage may be based on a maximum dollar amount while other plans are on a specified number of visits. Check with your auto insurer for more details about your plan. You will likely be getting physiotherapy for free!
Workers Compensation Board Coverage
Did you injure yourself at work? After filing your claim, Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) in Ontario and Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) will assess your claim and advise you about what services will be approved for coverage. Each province varies on the coverage and eligibility. You likely will be getting physiotherapy for free!
Provincial Healthcare Plans
Each province has extended healthcare options, however, to be eligible for free coverage, certain criteria’s must be met which varies across the country.
Ontario
Youth age 19 or younger Seniors age 65 or over Post Hospital admission On Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or Ontario Works (OW) Government funded physiotherapy services are only available at approved OHIP clinics.
Alberta
Alberta Health Services (AHS) provides coverage limited to three visits per year, per person (Initial assessment and two following treatments). The following circumstances may qualify for up to seven visits: Injury resulting in a fracture Post - surgery “Low-income” classification Government funded physiotherapy services are only available at approved AHS clinics.
British Columbia
The Medical Service Plan (MSP) offers MSP premium assistance to residents who qualify. MSP premium assistance provides funding for physiotherapy, chiropractic, naturopathy, massage, and podiatry for up to a combined total of ten visits per calendar year. MSP contributes $23 toward the cost of each of the ten visits. The patient must pay a user fee for each visit.
Veteran’s Affair
Veteran’s Affairs Canada (VAC) provides funding for physiotherapy and massage services to veterans across the country. As a Veteran, your VAC Health Identification Card or VAC Health Identification letter identifies the benefits and/or services you are eligible to receive.
Out of Pocket
If none of the above options are available to you, you will have to pay for the treatment out of your own pocket. Not sure if you’re covered? Contact your local physiotherapy clinic, many clinics offer a free, no-obligation consultation to help get you started.
What is direct billing?
You have just finished filling out the new patient intake form, and the receptionist gives you another stack of forms to fill out which asks you the SAME information that you just filled out. What a tedious process! The pain in your knee is excruciating, and the last thing you want to do is fill out corresponding third party forms with the same repetitive questions.
Take advantage of Physio clinics that offer direct billing. Avoid the hassle of having to submit insurance claims after every visit. With direct billing, your insurance company will pay the clinic directly for the visit. Depending on your extended health plan coverage, you will only pay out of pocket for the portion that your insurance doesn’t cover. Find a Physio clinic where you spend more time in treatment than in the waiting room filling out forms!
