Physiotherapy and its benefits
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.
Physiotherapy offers many benefits including:
- Pain management – Physiotherapy can help you minimize or eliminate nagging pain. The goal of physiotherapy is to help you become pain-free and healthy again. If you’re looking to manage chronic pain, physiotherapy offers a range of treatments to help minimize pain and cope with it.
- Improved function – Physiotherapy helps people with injuries and health conditions or who’ve had surgery, get back their functionality. It also aids people of all ages with common aches and pains increase functionality and flexibility to keep fit and active.
What affects how much physiotherapy costs
There are several factors that can affect the cost of your physiotherapy including location and clinic type. You’ll likely pay more for your initial assessment than for the following treatment sessions.
Provincial/territorial health care coverage for physiotherapy
Depending on where you live, your age and income, you may be eligible for physiotherapy coverage under your provincial or territorial health plan.
Ontario
With a valid Ontario health card you can receive government-funded physiotherapy if you’re:
- 65 years or older
- 19 years or under
- Any age after an overnight hospital stay or an outpatient/day surgery procedure (within the last 12 months) for a condition requiring physiotherapy
- A recipient of the Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program (any age, OHIP card not required)
British Columbia
The BC Medical Services Plan supplementary benefits provide partial payment for certain medical services including physical therapy. Check for eligibility.
Quebec
If you consult a physiotherapy professional who practises in a public institution, your care is free and paid for by the government. If you consult a physiotherapist in a private clinic, that cost will not be paid for by the government.
Alberta
Alberta Health Services (AHS) offers funded physiotherapy services for adults and children with specific physical concerns to help improve their function, better understand their condition and learn what they can do to be healthy and independent.
AHS-funded physiotherapy services are provided virtually or in-person through AHS facilities (outpatient) or community clinics who have contracts with AHS.
Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, physiotherapy is paid for by the province’s health care system. If you have a valid Nova Scotia health card, you can get outpatient service at your local hospital. You don’t need a note from a health care provider.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick Medicare pays for physiotherapy as long as it’s an insured hospital service. Otherwise, physiotherapy isn’t covered by New Brunswick Medicare.
Manitoba
Manitoba Health pays for physiotherapy services provided through hospitals.
Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, some physiotherapy services are covered by the provincial healthcare system. Some regions provide outpatient physiotherapy for certain conditions through local hospitals.
If you are scheduled for orthopaedic surgery, you’ll most likely receive some inpatient physiotherapy following the surgery. Other examples of people who receive referrals for physiotherapy within the public health system include young children with chronic conditions such as cerebral palsy or cystic fibrosis and or those requiring extensive rehabilitation programs after severe strokes, spinal cord injuries or head injuries.
Newfoundland and Labrador
The Newfoundland Hospital Insurance Plan covers insured hospital services received within the province when recommended by a medical practitioner. This includes in-patient and out-patient physiotherapy. Otherwise, the Newfoundland Medical Care Plan doesn’t cover physiotherapy.
Prince Edward Island
Health PEI covers physiotherapy when performed in a hospital. If you experience a work-related injury or illness, the Workers Compensation Board will provide the physiotherapy coverage you need to help you recover and return to work. Otherwise, physiotherapy is not covered.
Yukon
Physiotherapy is covered when performed in a hospital.
Northwest Territories
The NWT Health Care Plan | PDF 639 kb covers in-patient physiotherapy provided by hospital staff, where available.
Nunavut
The Nunavut Health Care Plan covers physiotherapy provided while in the hospital or receiving services on an outpatient basis.
Additional physiotherapy coverage opportunities
- Various provincial or territorial workers’ compensation boards may cover physiotherapy for work-related injuries.
- Some automobile insurance plans may cover physiotherapy for injuries resulting from an automobile accident.
- Veterans Affairs Canada may provide physiotherapy coverage for service-related injuries.
Workplace benefits coverage for physiotherapy
It’s common for workplace benefits plans to include coverage for physiotherapy. You could pay lower premiums for this coverage due to the fact it’s group coverage. Depending on the plan you may also pay a percentage of the cost and there will likely be a limit to the amount of physiotherapy coverage you have. Once you’re over the coverage limit, you’ll have to pay for those benefits through a healthcare spending account or out-of-pocket.
Private health insurance coverage for physiotherapy
If you don’t have workplace benefits coverage, you may also consider private health insurance coverage.
Freedom to Choose™ health and dental insurance can provide coverage for physiotherapy and other paramedical services. For example, our Guaranteed plus plan provides 100% coverage up to $350 per practitioner each calendar year. It’s easy to get a quote and look at your options.