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.
ICBC will cover any of the following:
- 25 Physiotherapy sessions
- 12 Kinesiology sessions
- 12 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 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.
What is the Process for Treatment with an ICBC Claim?
Call ICBC and file a claim or do so online
To start, report your injury by calling the ICBC call center at 604-520-8222 or, you can visit their official website www.icbc.com and complete their easy online application form. Take in mind that this is the initial start of the claiming process. Once ICBC recognizes your claim, they will provide you with a claim number – this number is essential to start receiving your physiotherapy treatment.
Complete ICBC initial assessment session with a registered physiotherapist
The next step is to make an appointment with a physiotherapist for the ICBC initial assessment. You do not have to wait for a recovery specialist to contact you before starting treatment, you can book in with the health care practitioner of your choosing right away. We are open from Monday to Saturday for your convenience, and the appointment can be booked by calling 604-474-1276 or emailing our office at reception@vitallifephysio.ca (please note, you cannot book an ICBC initial assessment through our online booking page – only subsequent appointments)
Start receiving treatment for injuries sustained in your motor vehicle accident (MVA)
ICBC automatically provides you with a certain amount of sessions to begin the treatment process within the first 12 weeks following the accident. If your condition requires additional treatment sessions past your end date or number of sessions used, your therapist will submit a treatment plan to ICBC indicating that treatment needs to be extended. They will outline the further treatment planned as well as the duration and frequency of treatment going forward. This process of extending can happen multiple times before your final discharge date.
Recover, return to usual activities and become discharged
Once full recovery is achieved and you are back to your normal pre-MVA state, your therapist will discharge you from our clinic, your claim can then be closed with us as well as ICBC (please phone them at this point to discuss further about closing your claim)
Take the next steps to feeling better…
If you have questions about whether this treatment is right for you please give us a call (604) 474-1276
