A physiotherapy assessment in West Vancouver is around $110 to $135, and follow-up visits are around $90 to $110. That is the sticker price, but most people pay less, because extended health plans reimburse a share and ICBC and WorkSafeBC visits are typically fully covered. Here is how the numbers actually work out.
What does physiotherapy cost?
Your first appointment is an assessment, which is longer and priced accordingly at roughly $110 to $135. Follow-up visits are shorter and run about $90 to $110. The first visit costs a little more because it includes a full assessment and diagnosis, which is the foundation for the rest of your treatment.
These are physiotherapy fees. You can see the current rates on our pricing page, which is the most reliable place to confirm an exact figure before you book.
How much will I actually pay with insurance?
Most people pay less than the full fee, because extended health plans reimburse a share of each physiotherapy visit. Coverage varies by plan: some pay a fixed amount per visit, some pay a percentage, and most cap the total they will pay over a year. Your benefits booklet, or a quick call to your provider, tells you your per-visit amount and annual maximum.
When a clinic offers direct billing, it claims your insurer for you and you pay only the portion your plan does not cover. So if your plan covers most of a visit, your out-of-pocket cost at the desk is just the remainder. Our page on insurance and direct billing explains which plans we bill and how it works.
- 01We submit the claim to your extended health provider at the time of your visit.
- 02Your insurer pays its share of the physiotherapy fee directly to the clinic.
- 03You pay only the uncovered portion, if any, before you leave.
What about ICBC and WorkSafeBC?
If your injury is from a car accident or happened at work, your physiotherapy is typically fully covered, with nothing to pay upfront. For an ICBC claim, visits are pre-approved and the clinic bills ICBC directly, so you bring your claim number and pay nothing for covered visits. WorkSafeBC works the same way once your claim is accepted.
You do not need a referral for either, and you do not have to pay and claim it back yourself. The whole point of these systems is to remove the cost barrier so you can start treatment early, which is when it does the most good.
Does MSP cover physiotherapy?
For most people, no. BC’s Medical Services Plan does not cover routine physiotherapy for the general public. There is a limited supplementary benefit for residents who qualify on low income, which contributes a small amount toward a capped number of visits per year. If you think you may qualify, check with MSP, and call us so we can tell you how it applies to your visit.
Is physiotherapy worth the cost?
The honest answer is that it depends on getting to the cause, not just the symptom. A well-targeted plan often resolves a problem in a handful of visits and prevents it from coming back, which is far cheaper than living with a recurring injury or letting it become chronic. We will give you a realistic sense of how many visits your problem is likely to need after the first assessment, so there are no surprises.
If you want an exact fee for your situation, including how your insurance applies, the quickest route is to call either West Vancouver location or check the pricing page before you book.