ICBC Claims

At Vital Life Physiotherapy Clinic, we are an authorized provider under ICBC and are able to bill directly. Whether you were involved in a minor fender bender or a more serious accident our physiotherapists have the experience and tools needed to help you recover quickly and get back to your normal pre-accident self.

What Treatments Does ICBC Cover?

If you have been in a recent motor vehicle accident, have reported a claim, and received a claim number, then you may start treatment which is automatically approved for 12 weeks following the date of your motor vehicle accident. You don’t need to wait for an  ICBC recovery specialist to contact you to get treatment under the Enhanced Accident Benefits. You can access treatment with the health care practitioners listed in the table below for the first 12 weeks after your crash without a doctor’s referral.

ICBC will cover any of the following:

• 25 Physiotherapy sessions
• 12 Kinesiology / Active Rehab sessions
• 12 Registered Massage Therapy sessions
• 12 Acupuncture sessions
• 25 Chiropractic sessions
• 12 Counselling sessions
• 12 Psychology sessions

ICBC CLAIM FAQ

Do I have to utilize all of these approvals?

You may start with just 1 of these disciplines and transition into others as needed. It is completely up to you, your therapist, and the recommendation of your doctor on what treatment is best suited for you at which time.

Most people start out by utilizing physiotherapy right away as they are in the acute stage of their injury, and add or transition into our active rehab program, working with our kinesiologist to build up their strength going forward.

Do I need to be referred by a doctor to have my claim covered?

You do not need a doctor’s referral to commence physiotherapy under ICBC, but we do recommend you see your regular family physician to review your injury and to determine if further medical testing is required.

Does treatment need to be pre-approved by ICBC?

As long as you are coming in for treatment anytime within 12 weeks from the date of your motor vehicle accident, you are automatically approved to start treatment. 

Should your motor vehicle accident be more than 12 weeks ago, pre-approval from ICBC will need to be received before starting the initial assessment. Our clinic can do this by submitting a request for you with the claim number you provide to us.

Can my ICBC claim be extended?

If further treatment is required past the initial approved amount, your therapist can request for more sessions from ICBC by submitting a treatment plan for you. Treatment plans are a means of documenting progress made to date in your recovery and the outcomes that patients will achieve with further treatment. The information your therapist provides enables ICBC claim representatives to make informed benefit decisions when extending your claim.

If you are approved to have your claim extended, we will notify you as soon as possible. Should you want to continue treatment and pay privately while waiting for your approval to come in, we will reimburse you once approval is received.

How long does ICBC cover treatment for?

As the severity of car accidents and its injuries are different there is not a guaranteed end date in the treatment timeline. ICBC will cover treatment in increments of 3 months at a time. Treatment lasts as long as your therapist can justify the need for treatment, stipulating what is going on in each treatment plan. ICBC may choose to approve or disapprove at any time.

Are there any user fee’s, or does ICBC cover 100% of the cost?

There is no cost associated with a regular 45 minute treatment session. Should you and your therapist decide that you should receive any speciality treatment such as Shockwave Therapy, Acupuncture, or IMS, you will be subject to a $30 per session, user fee.

For any RMT appointments past the 45 minute regular treatment session, there is a $15 user fee per every 15 minutes of massage added.

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