While extended benefits are awesome, Ithaca Wellness is NOT an insurance-based business or service.
Max and Ithaca Wellness operate a Cash/Debit-Card/Credit-Card-based business. Ithaca Wellness offers a results-based and client-paid service.
Payment is due at time of service by either cash, debit-card, credit-card, e-transfer, pre-purchased booklet or Ithaca Wellness vouchers.
We are not an insurance-based service and do NOT guarantee or promise insurance coverage.
Check your extended benefits as most medical insurers in Canada do cover Osteopathy generally.
However, some insurance companies and extended benefits do NOT cover Osteopathy. To avoid any confusion or disappointment please check BEFORE booking an appointment if you are unsure.
Max is a member of British Columbia Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (BCAOMP) – To avoid any confusion or disappointment please ensure members of this association are covered by your insurance company and extended benefits BEFORE booking an appointment. Some associations are not accepted by some insurance companies and this varies from province to province.
Ithaca Wellness does not provide a Direct Billing Service. Full receipts are provided by Ithaca Wellness for you, the client, to submit for claims after the treatment.
Ithaca Wellness takes no responsibility for accepted or rejected extended benefit insurance claims.
We do NOT correspond with insurance companies on behalf of clients.
BC Regulations
In BC, extended benefits health insurance companies do not cover “Manual Osteopathy” or “Bodywork Therapy” by default, even if the practitioner is highly trained.
Insurance companies only reimburse services provided by practitioners who belong to specific, insurer-recognized regulated professions and regulatory colleges or associations, such as: RMT, Physiotherapist, Chiropractor, Acupuncturist, Naturopathic doctor.
If it’s not a provincially regulated health profession (like Manual Osteopathy and Bodywork Therapy), some insurers won’t reimburse. Osteopathy, Bodywork Therapy, Holistic Therapy are NOT regulated professions in BC. So, they won’t reimburse Manual Osteopathy as its own category and often even if a Manual Osteopath joins an association, clients can often still get their claims denied.
Insurance companies can change their policies at any time without notice and with no notification. There are a lot of insurance companies and Ithaca Wellness is not in correspondence with them and might not have up-to-date information, or any information at all, about individual insurance company’s policies on reimbursements or extended benefits.
Realistic Alternative Options if you are Unable to Claim for Manual Osteopathy with your Insurance Company
1) Some clients can submit under their “Health Spending Account (HSA)”
This is important. If you have an HSA, insurers are often much more flexible. HSAs can sometimes reimburse for:
“Wellness services”
“Bodywork Therapy”
“Alternative Therapy”
“Manual Bodywork Therapy”
“Manual Therapy Session”
Ithaca Wellness provides “Manual Osteopathy & Bodywork Therapy”
This depends on the employer’s extended benefits plan — but many clients don’t realize this option exists.
So, ask your insurers: “Can this be claimed under my Health Spending Account?”
As we mentioned above, Manual Osteopathy isn’t currently regulated in BC, so most extended health plans don’t reimburse it. Some clients are able to use Health Spending Accounts, but we recommend checking with your insurer.
2) Check your Secondary Benefits to see if they will reimburse your claim. Perhaps your spouse, extended family plan or you have two insurance policies – one of them might accept your claim if the other does not.
Again, we reiterate, Ithaca Wellness takes no responsibility for accepted or rejected claims. It is great if your claim is accepted and you are covered for our services, but we are not an insurance-based service and do NOT involve ourselves in insurance claims.
Full receipts are provided by Ithaca Wellness for you, the client, to submit for claims after the treatment. Clinical notes are also available upon request.
We are happy to provide receipts for insurance purposes; however, once a service has been completed, we are unable to enter into discussions or disputes regarding payment based on extended health insurance coverage. Insurance coverage varies by plan, and confirmation of eligibility is the responsibility of the client PRIOR to treatment.
As such, payment for services rendered remains due regardless of insurance reimbursement.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
If you need longer-term wellness-based treatments for stress, chronic pain and preventative health book a free online consultation with Max at Ithaca Wellness and you will experience more individualized care, a whole-body approach and a focus on nervous system relief and improved wellness.
Warm regards,
Max Edwards
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