What are paramedical services?
Paramedical services are healthcare services that aim to reduce stress, manage pain, and improve sleep and well-being.
They supplement and support medical care, but don’t require a doctor to deliver them.
Paramedical services are highly-prized in a workplace benefit plan. According to Benefits Canada | PDF 5.8 MB, between 1 in 8 and 1 in 14 plan members are medium users (4 to 10 times) of paramedical services. As well, heavy use of 1 paramedical service (11+ times) often means heavy use of other paramedical services.
Types of paramedical services
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is treatment to restore, maintain, and make the most of a patient’s mobility, function, and well-being. Physiotherapy helps through physical rehabilitation, injury prevention, and health and fitness. Physiotherapists get you involved in your own recovery.
Chiropractic
Chiropractors treat neck pain, back pain, arthritis, certain types of headaches, injuries and more. They are spine, muscle and nervous system experts in assessing, diagnosing, treating and developing care plans to keep you moving and pain-free.
In 2023, Canadian plan members used chiropractic an average of 6.9 times | PDF 5.8 MB.
Massage therapy
Massage therapyOpens a new website in a new window is the assessment of the musculoskeletal system of the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction, injury and pain by manipulation, mobilization and other manual methods to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, relieve pain or promote health. Massage therapy helps alleviate the musculoskeletal disorders associated with everyday stress, physical manifestation of mental distress, muscular overuse and many persistent pain syndromes.
In 2023, Canadian workplace benefit plan members used massage therapy an average of 5.4 times | PDF 5.8 MB.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins – the body’s natural pain-relieving neurohormones – through the insertion of needles into specific anatomical points (acupuncture points) to encourage natural healing. Therapeutic effects include help with pain relief, increased energy, improved mood and body function.
Podiatry
A podiatrist diagnoses and treats injuries or issues of the foot and ankle including hammertoes, bunions, arthritis, heel pain, ingrown toenails, corns, calluses, fungal nails, flat feet, plantar warts, athlete’s foot and diabetic foot ulcers. A podiatrist can provide general foot care, provide custom foot orthotics, take and read x-rays, prescribe medicine and suggest stretches or exercises to help relieve pain in your feet, ankles, and legs. A podiatrist can also offer surgical options to correct your problem.
Psychological services
Psychologists study the biological, cognitive, emotional, social, cultural and environmental determinants of behaviour — in other words, how people think, feel and behave in their social and physical environments. Psychologists assess, diagnose and treat psychological problems and mental disorders.
In 2023, Canadian workplace benefit plan members used mental health therapy an average of 6.7 times | PDF 5.8 MB.
Naturopathy
Naturopathic medicine blends modern scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine. The naturopathic philosophy is to stimulate the healing power of the body and treat the underlying cause of disease.
In addition to diet and lifestyle changes, natural therapies including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathic manipulation and traditional Chinese medicine/acupuncture, may be used.
Dieticians
Dietitians empower people to embrace, understand and enjoy food. They can help:
- Treat and prevent type 2 diabetes
- Manage high cholesterol, blood pressure and weight concerns
- Manage allergies, intolerances and digestive issues
- Develop food skills like label reading, meal planning and cooking
- Solve picky eating, nutrient deficiencies and more
Osteopaths
Osteopaths use manual therapy to restore proper body mechanics, nerve impulse and circulation by removing motion restriction where needed. Your visit to an osteopathic office will include a dynamic assessment of the way your body moves. Treatment will include joint mobilization and soft tissue treatment to remove any obstacles that interfere with the proper nutrition and drainage of your body’s tissue.
Speech therapy
A speech-language pathologist works with an adult or child who has a communication difficulty such as spoken and written language issues, speech difficulties, stuttering, voice disorders, reading, and swallowing. They help identify, evaluate and provide treatment for any disorder.
Social worker
Social workers help people attain physical, mental and spiritual well-being in many different ways including:
- Therapy/counselling
- Health promotion
- Collaboration with other professions
Benefits of paramedical services
Preventative care
Using paramedical services can help people maintain or improve their current health, by managing minor issues before they become major or chronic problems.
Chronic disease management
Paramedical services can also be crucial for people managing chronic disease. For diabetics, using a nutritionist might help. For someone experiencing chronic back pain, acupuncture, physiotherapy or chiropractic may help manage pain.
Holistic care
Paramedical services can help many health issues that traditional medical care may not fully cover. Using these services can help people get comprehensive care that addresses their physical and mental health.
Reducing the burden on our healthcare system
By preventing and managing health issues, paramedical services can help reduce the strain on the primary healthcare system, allowing for more efficient use of resources.
Coverage for paramedical services
Canadians are fortunate to have provincial/territorial government health care insurance coverage. However, paramedical services are generally not included in this coverage.
There are some exceptions. Your provincial or territorial plan may cover the cost of physiotherapy for youth, seniors, and other patients to address a new injury, fall, accident or surgery, or situations where symptoms have become worse and affect function.
A physiotherapist will determine eligibility, complete an assessment, diagnose your condition and develop a treatment plan. Treatments will end when your goals have been achieved, or when you can achieve your goals on your own, or through a home exercise or community plan.
That means unless you have healthcare benefits through your employer or an individual plan, paying for paramedical services will be an out-of-pocket expense.
If you don’t have coverage for paramedical services there are individual options like Canada Life’s Freedom to ChooseTM health and dental insurance.