Journal
Is massage therapy covered by insurance in BC?
5 minute read. Written by the team at Back in Health, Kelowna.
In short
Most extended health plans in British Columbia cover registered massage therapy, usually as an annual dollar limit rather than a number of visits. Treatment must be delivered by a Registered Massage Therapist to be eligible. MSP does not cover massage therapy for most people, and no doctor referral is required to book.
What extended health usually covers
Employer and private plans normally set an annual maximum for massage therapy, commonly somewhere between three hundred and seven hundred dollars, sometimes with a per-visit cap. The limit runs per calendar or benefit year and rarely carries over, so an unused balance in December is money left behind.
Registration matters. Plans reimburse treatment by a Registered Massage Therapist, which in British Columbia means registration with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC. Relaxation massage from an unregistered provider is not claimable, however good it is.
Direct billing and what it changes
Direct billing means the clinic submits the claim and you pay only the remaining portion at the desk, instead of paying in full and waiting to be reimbursed. Back in Health direct bills most major insurers, including Canada Life, Sun Life, Manulife, Pacific Blue Cross, GreenShield, Johnson, Empire Life and RWAM.
It is worth knowing your remaining balance before a first appointment. Insurers do not always tell the clinic what is left, and a declined portion simply becomes payable at the desk.
Referrals, MSP and ICBC
You do not need a doctor referral to book massage therapy in British Columbia. Some plans still ask for one before they reimburse, which is a plan rule rather than a legal one, so check your own policy.
MSP does not fund massage therapy for most residents. ICBC is different: after a motor vehicle accident you are entitled to a pre-approved block of treatment, billed directly to ICBC. Bring your claim number to the first appointment, and start sooner rather than later, because that entitlement is time-limited from the date of the accident.
Key points
- Most BC extended health plans cover RMT treatment
- Usually an annual dollar limit, not a visit count
- Direct billing means you pay only your portion
- No referral needed to book, though some plans ask for one
- ICBC pre-approves treatment and is billed directly
General information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. If something is getting worse, or you are unsure whether it is right for you, speak to a clinician.