Everything You Need to Know To Visit a Physio in BC
We know that finding the right physio can be hard, and it is challenging to get your questions answered. But don’t worry we got you! In this post we go over what physiotherapists do, how much it may cost and how much is covered by MSP, ICBC, or extended health plans.
What’s Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapists work with you to increase joint mobility, flexibility, strength, endurance, coordination, and balance. Physios use exercise, manual therapy, and specialized techniques to reduce swelling and pain. Choosing the right physiotherapist is an important part of your recovery. The physio should have the scope to determine the best treatment plan for you and help with mobility. Being able to move your joints fully is important for quality of life and functional living. Having flexible joints prevents injuries throughout life and offsets problems like arthritis.
Choosing the right physio clinic is key to helping you get back that range of motion. The physiotherapist you choose should be able to assess and treat your injuries to meet your needs.
Do You Need a Doctor’s Referral to See a Physio?
Physios are university trained primary care practitioners so in most cases a doctor’s referral is not needed to visit a physiotherapy clinic. A referral from a doctor or nurse practioner will be needed if you plan on visiting a publicly funded clinic and some extend health plans may need a referral as well.
How Much Does Physio Cost and What’s Covered?
The price of sessions in BC range from $63 to $190 depending on the treatment and time needed for the session. MSP contributes $23 to each session for a maximum of 10 visits each calendar year, if the injury is not work or vehicle accident related.
If the injury is vehicle accident related ICBC will cover 25 physiotherapy visits for the first 12 weeks directly after the accident. If the injury still persists after the 12 weeks an extended treatment plan can be made by working with your ICBC claim representative.
Many extended health insurance plans cover around $200 to $500 annually per person on the plan, this varies from plan to plan.
We know it’s tough to find the right physiotherapist so we will continue to update this page with more information over time and as we find it.
References:
ICBC. (n.d.). https://www.icbc.com/claims/injury/Pages/medical-care-treatment.aspx.
MSP. Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia. (2019, October 16). https://bcphysio.org/public/access-fee-and-coverage/msp.
Physiotherapy in Canada. Canadian Physiotherapy Association. (n.d.). https://physiotherapy.ca/physiotherapy-canada.
Physiotherapy. HealthLink BC. (n.d.). https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/zt1045.
Referrals and Accessing Physiotherapy. Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia. (2019, October 15). https://bcphysio.org/public/access-fee-and-coverage/referrals-and-accessing-physiotherapy.
The Physio Shop specializes in evidence-based physiotherapy and massage therapy in a sweet commercial drive clinic, with a friendly barbershop feel. Plus, we do virtual sessions too, because 2020 right? If you’re dealing with nagging aches and pains, schedule a session with our finest Physiotherapists or Massage Therapists today. Or stop by and say hello to Sophie, that works too.