Patient Guide
How direct billing works in BC
A plain-language look at extended health coverage, receipts versus direct billing, and where direct billing stands today at Fittopia Health Care.
What extended health covers
Many extended health plans in BC include coverage for registered massage therapy, acupuncture, physiotherapy, and counselling, usually as separate categories with their own annual maximums. Exactly what is covered, and how much, varies a great deal from plan to plan and employer to employer, so the details in your own benefits booklet or plan portal are what matter most.
Some plans also set requirements before they will reimburse a service, such as a doctor's referral for physiotherapy, so it is worth checking your specific policy before your first visit rather than assuming coverage works the same way everywhere.
Coverage can also depend on who is providing the service. Most plans specify that massage therapy be provided by a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), acupuncture by a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac), physiotherapy by a Registered Physiotherapist, and counselling by a Registered Social Worker (RSW) or similar regulated professional, so official receipts always include that registration number.
Receipts versus direct billing
There are two ways a visit gets paid for. With a receipt, you pay for your visit and are given an official receipt, including your practitioner's registration number, which you submit yourself to your insurer for reimbursement. With direct billing, the clinic submits the claim to your insurer directly, so you pay only whatever portion, if any, is left after your plan's contribution.
Not every insurer supports direct billing yet, and coverage details still depend on your specific plan either way. A receipt is always available regardless of whether direct billing applies to your insurer.
Where we stand today
Direct billing at the clinic is rolling out insurer by insurer. Sun Life is live today, and more insurers are being onboarded; the Insurance & Direct Billing page keeps the current list up to date, including which insurers are live now and which are in progress.
Physiotherapy at Fittopia Fitness Center runs on a separate booking system from the clinic and already direct-bills 11 major insurers. If you are seeing a physiotherapist there, check that page for the specific list, since it is different from the clinic's roster.
What to bring
Bring your extended health benefits card, or at least your plan and member numbers, so your practitioner or the front desk can check what applies to your visit. If direct billing is available for your insurer, having your card on hand also speeds up submitting the claim on the spot.
If you are covering more than one household member on the same plan, it also helps to know whose benefits are being used for the visit, since maximums are often tracked per person rather than per family.
Tips
Most plans run on a calendar or plan year, so it is worth checking when your benefits reset and how much of your annual maximum you have used in each category. Referral requirements, session limits, and reimbursement percentages vary by policy, so a quick call to your insurer before your first visit can save a surprise later.
For the current status of direct billing at Fittopia Health Care, see Insurance & Direct Billing.
Looking for a visit guide instead? Your first RMT visit, your first acupuncture visit, or see all patient guides.
Fittopia Health Care
Questions about your coverage?
Book online, or call and we will confirm whether your plan can be billed directly.