Osteopathy is not covered by OHIP in Ontario, but many extended health benefit plans include it as a paramedical benefit. Because manual osteopathy is not a regulated health profession in Ontario, plans usually set their own rules, such as which professional associations they accept. Check your plan wording, your annual maximum and any association requirement before you book.
Key Takeaways
- OHIP does not pay for treatment by an osteopathic manual practitioner.
- Many extended health plans list osteopathy as its own paramedical benefit, usually with an annual maximum.
- Manual osteopathy is not a regulated health profession in Ontario, so insurers often decide which practitioner associations they will reimburse.
- Ask your insurer about the annual maximum, per-visit limits, referral rules and accepted associations before your first visit.
- Osteopaths are not on the Canada Revenue Agency's list of authorized medical practitioners for Ontario, unlike chiropractors and physiotherapists.
In This Article
Osteopathy is not covered by OHIP in Ontario, but many extended health benefit plans include it. Before your first visit, check your plan's annual osteopathy maximum and whether it only reimburses practitioners from certain professional associations.
That second point is what makes osteopathy different from chiropractic or physiotherapy, and it is the one that catches people out at the front desk.
Why OHIP Does Not Pay for Osteopathy
OHIP covers physician visits, hospital care, medically necessary lab tests and a short list of other services, such as eye exams and some foot care. The Ontario government's own summary of what OHIP covers does not include osteopathy.
There is a second reason osteopathy sits outside public coverage. The Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners states that "the practice of (non-medical) manual osteopathy is not currently recognized as a regulated health profession under the Ontario Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, or any other legislation." Without a provincial college, there is no public program for it to sit inside.
How Most People Pay for Osteopathy in Ontario
1. Extended health care benefits. This is the main route. Group plans from an employer, union or professional organization often list osteopathy as a paramedical benefit, separate from massage therapy and physiotherapy. The same association notes that group extended health benefits "often include the services provided by Osteopathic Manual Practitioners who are OAO members", and that you should check with your benefits administrator for your own plan.
2. An individual plan. If you are self-employed, you can buy an extended health plan yourself. Entry-level plans can be thin on paramedical coverage, so confirm osteopathy is included before you sign.
3. A Health Spending Account. Some employers give a yearly amount you can put toward eligible health costs, or use to top up what your regular plan does not pay.
4. Work injuries and car accidents. If your pain follows a workplace injury or a collision, tell the clinic when you book. The claim may go to WSIB or your auto insurer instead of your health plan.
Five Questions to Ask Your Insurer First
Because osteopathy is unregulated in Ontario, the wording of your plan matters more than it does for a regulated profession. Five questions cover almost everything:
- Is osteopathy included, and what is the annual maximum? Some plans give it its own limit. Others share one paramedical maximum across several practitioners.
- Which associations do you accept? Many plans only reimburse practitioners who belong to an association on their approved list. Ask for the list by name.
- Is there a per-visit limit or a percentage paid? A plan might pay 80% of each visit up to the annual maximum.
- Do you need a doctor's referral? You can book directly, but a few plans ask for a physician's note before they reimburse.
- When does my plan year reset? Unused coverage rarely carries over. If your plan resets in January, the fall is the time to use what is left.
Osteopathy and the Medical Expense Tax Credit
This is where osteopathy differs from chiropractic and physiotherapy. The Canada Revenue Agency publishes a table of authorized medical practitioners by province, and osteopaths are not listed for Ontario. In practice, that means osteopathy fees your plan does not reimburse generally cannot be claimed for the medical expense tax credit. Check with a tax professional if your situation is unusual.
If tax coverage matters to you, it is worth knowing how the other services compare. Our guides to chiropractic coverage and OHIP and massage therapy insurance in Ontario explain how those benefits work.
What You Are Paying For at an Osteopathy Visit
A first osteopathy appointment starts with a health history and an assessment of how you move, then gentle hands-on treatment if it is appropriate. Osteopathy is often used for back, neck and joint pain, headaches, and pregnancy and postpartum discomfort. Our guide to what an osteopath does walks through it in more detail.
Your receipt should show the practitioner's name, their credentials, the date and the fee. Keep it, because your insurer will ask for it if you are not using direct billing.
Osteopathy at Anchor in Keswick
Osteopathy at Anchor Health & Fitness is provided by an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner who holds a Master in Practice of Osteopathic Manipulative Sciences and brings a background in physiotherapy to every treatment. We offer direct billing to most major insurance companies where possible, and accept major credit cards, debit and cash.
Not sure what your plan covers? Contact us or call (905) 535-4449 before you book, and our front desk will help you check. We are on The Queensway South in Keswick, a short drive from Sutton, Jackson's Point and Pefferlaw.
References
- Osteopathy Regulation in Ontario, Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners
- What OHIP covers, Government of Ontario
- Authorized medical practitioners for the purposes of the medical expense tax credit, Canada Revenue Agency
Ready When You Are
Book an assessment at our Keswick clinic
No referral needed. Most extended health benefit plans provide coverage, and we direct bill where possible.