Locate Expert Care: Trusted Physiotherapists in Your Area

If you are visiting a physiotherapist for an injury or condition that is not work-related or motor vehicle accident-related, you may have the option to pay by MSP Premium Assistance.

According to the BC Ministry of Health, over 1.2 million British Columbians receive MSP premium assistance of between 20 and 100 percent of their premiums. Over 800,000 pay no premiums at all, with 37 percent of BC seniors receiving some kind of premium assistance in 20121.

For MSP beneficiaries receiving premium assistance, MSP will contribute $23 per visit for a combined annual limit of 10 visits each calendar year towards physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, and non-surgical podiatry.

The clinic you attend will be able to check your Care Card and confirm in advance whether you qualify as an MSP beneficiary. A user fee may be charged to the patient and is the responsibility of the patient. Fees are determined by the clinic.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident (MVA) in British Columbia, you are entitled to accident benefits coverage under the Motor Vehicles Act, regardless of whether you were at fault. The amount of coverage that you receive will depend on the type of injury that you have sustained.

If you have been in a car accident you should contact your insurance company to let them know. Then book an appointment immediately with a physiotherapist to get an early assessment.

The good news is that you don’t have to seek approval of the insurer to get an assessment. The physiotherapy clinic will bill the automobile insurer directly so you can focus on recovering and not on administrative hassles.

Treatment length is usually 10 – 12 weeks for car accident injuries. There is a large variance and you may only require a couple of visits or you may require years of treatment depending on the extent of your injuries. Under Section B Accident Benefits your insurance company is required to cover all reasonable expenses incurred within 2 years from the date of the accident for necessary physiotherapy and other medical services that are essential for rehabilitation.

You are eligible for 25 pre-approved sessions of physiotherapy, 12 active rehab, and 12 kinesiology services if your injury was within 12 weeks of your first assessment and if you were driving a personal vehicle.

Injured at work? Then you may be eligible to have your entire treatment covered by WSBC.

If you have injured yourself at work you and your employee need to fill out a WSBC claim. You can then go for an assessment at an approved WSBC physiotherapy clinic. The initial physiotherapy examination and first treatment will be paid for by WSBC.

Further physiotherapy treatment is only approved once the claim is accepted. If approved, the WSBC may authorize physiotherapy treatment for up to six weeks. That means you won’t be required to pay anything out of your own pocket and your treatment will be free.

Physiotherapy is normally included in employer or purchased health benefit plans. Coverage varies from plan to plan and can range from $500 to unlimited so you need to look into the details of your health coverage. Some insurers require a referral from a doctor to access your physiotherapy coverage.

Most clinics offer direct billing so they will manage the administration of reimbursement for you so you can focus your efforts on your treatment instead of managing paperwork.

Direct billing is the physiotherapy clinic taking on the tedious task of submitting your claim to your insurance company for you!

Take advantage of the clinics that provide this service for you. It is a huge time saver for you and you won’t have to submit claims after every visit. The insurance company pays the physiotherapy clinic directly for your treatment. Depending on your health care coverage only part of your treatment may be covered so you will need to pay for the portion that the insurance doesn’t cover.

Direct billing is available through all major providers under Telus Health Portal, Blue Cross, and Greenshield. Medavie Blue Cross is also available for RCMP officers.

If none of the above funded options are available to you then you will have to pay out of your own pocket.

Prices will vary depending on the type of assessment, injury and time that is required. Physiotherapists that have taken additional education and require certification for specialized skills will charge more per visit.

Assessments: $105 to $180

Treatments $75 – $140

You will always be told the cost of the services when you book your first appointment and then the therapist will give you a detailed treatment plan including expectations and costs after your initial assessment.