Types of treatment available
I couldn’t possibly list all the available treatment; however, the following is a very brief list of common treatment types that many auto crash injury victims receive:
1. physiotherapy;
2. chiropractic;
3. massage therapy;
4. water therapy;
5. yoga, Pilates, fitness gym membership;
6. self-directed exercises at home or a gym (often set out by a physiotherapist);
7. medical equipment;
8. counselling (somewhat common after auto crashes);
9. pain clinics using a variety of rehabilitation techniques; and
10. medication.
This is a short list of the more common treatments widely available. For more severe injuries that are not healing, or unique circumstances, there are numerous other options available that your doctor can prescribe or recommend.
Treatment costs money; how can I pay for it?
There are a number of ways to get full or partial payment for your treatment. Here are some of your options:
1. Private Insurance: Just like lost wages, find out if you have private insurance coverage through your employer, spouse, parent(s), union, or some other source. These insurance plans often include some form of coverage for treatment. Each plan is different so you will have to talk to your plan administrator or the insurance company to find out what coverage is available. Get your application to your insurance company as soon as possible. For coverage, you’ll most likely need your doctor to fill out a form.
2. Medical Services Plan (MSP): Yes, our public healthcare system will cover you for some treatment if you are on premium assistance (you earn less than $24,000 per year). The following is a basic list of the common treatments available through MSP and how much MSP will pay. MSP will only pay the indicated amount for up to 10 visits during a calendar year.
a) acupuncture $23.00
b) chiropractor service $23.00
c) massage therapy $23.00
d) naturopathy $23.00
e) physiotherapy $23.00
f) podiatry (non-surgical) $23.00
For a comprehensive list of what MSP covers, you can visit www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/index.html.
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3. ICBC: Your own insurance policy (Part 7 – described in chapter 10) with ICBC includes partial payment for some forms of treatment. I said partial payment because unfortunately you will have to pay user fees for each visit. Here is a basic list of treatment and the amount ICBC will pay (the amount you will have to pay, i.e. your user fees, will depend on what the treatment provider charges):
Treatment What ICBC pays?
Massage Therapy: $23 per visit for up to 12 visits during the first 8 weeks after a car crash. You will need a medical doctor’s prescription note to present to ICBC. This is not a required benefit by law; instead it’s an ICBC policy that’s been in place since 2002.
Physiotherapy: $25.20 first visit; $17.65 – $23.60 each other visit. Generally you need a doctor’s note, although sometimes a treatment plan from the physiotherapist will suffice for ICBC to pay a portion.
Chiropractic care: $22.27 initial visit; $17.35 each other visit – treatment plan set out by chiropractor is sufficient.
Yoga / Pilates / fitness gym membership: Payment is up to ICBC. If your doctor prescribes this type of treatment, ICBC may pay for it or a portion.
Medical equipment: ICBC covers a variety of medical equipment when prescribed by a medical doctor.
Counselling: In some cases ICBC will pay some or a portion of counselling fees.
Pain clinics: In some cases ICBC will pay some or a portion for a pain clinic.
Medication: If prescribed by a medical doctor, you will be reimbursed upon submitting original receipts (keep a copy of the receipt).
If your injuries are serious, ICBC will provide an occupational therapist to coordinate your treatment and recommend home/work/transportation modifications necessary.
There is other medical coverage available from ICBC. I simply provided the more common forms of treatment. For a complete list of what ICBC covers, check out the Regulations to the Insurance (Vehicle) Act. An unofficial free version is available at www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/reg/I/InsurV/InsurV447_83/447_83_00.htm. Scroll down and click on “Part 7”.
Each chiropractor, massage therapist and physiotherapist charges their own rates. The amount you will pay for each visit (i.e. your user fee) will depend on how much a particular treatment provider charges. When you book your appointment just ask the office what your user fee will be.
ICBC exercises its discretion whether to pay for treatment. If you are denied treatment but need it, write ICBC asking whether you are denied, and if so, to provide you in writing with their reasons for doing so.
The reason you want all this in writing is so that ICBC has much less of a chance to successfully argue that you weren’t injured because you failed to get treatment. It also prevents ICBC from arguing you didn’t do anything for treatment, and therefore you shouldn’t be compensated for your harms and losses.
Like wage loss benefits discussed in chapter 5, in order to get treatment benefits you will need to fill out an ICBC benefits application form called a CL22. I discuss how to fill out the CL22 in chapter 7.
4. Treatment provider lien:
Some treatment providers are willing to collect payment for your user fees and any other fees when your claim is resolved. Generally, these treatment providers will require that you sign what is called a “lien”. The lien entitles them to be first in line to claim money when your claim resolves. A lawyer may be able to arrange for a lien with treatment providers. Availability of liens depends on your case and the treatment provider.
One downside to a lien is that if your settlement or court award does not pay off your treatment fees owing, then you will most likely (depending on the terms of the lien) have to pay off the balance owing out of your pocket.
5. CPP disability benefits and BC Employment and Assistance
If you apply for benefits through CPP disability and/or BC Employment and Assistance (BCEA), your benefits may include payment or partial payment for treatment. Their Web sites are located at:
CPP disability benefits: www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/isp/cpp/disaben.shtml
BCEA: www.eia.gov.bc.ca/bcea.htm
6. Pay for it yourself and claim the money back later
You can pay for the treatment yourself. That expense forms part of your claim against the wrongdoer(s). Keep your receipts, especially for medication and medical equipment. You don’t need to keep receipts from your treatment providers (physiotherapist, chiropractor, and massage therapist) because they can quickly produce a statement listing all your visits and how much each visit cost.
