As essential forms of active rehabilitation, Kinesiologists and Athletic Therapists play an integral part in your recovery from injury. Whether you’re experiencing neck pain, muscle strains, low back pain or any type of immobility, it’s important to seek treatment before these injuries take a toll on your quality of life.
If treatment funding is an issue, ICBC is here to alleviate the burden of financial strain to help you get on track to recovery sooner. Thanks to ICBC’s latest comprehensive coverage plan, you may be entitled to all “reasonable and necessary” care expenses to manage and treat your injuries.
If you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident that requires hands-on treatment to manage your symptoms, you may be eligible to receive full ICBC coverage for all visits including Kinesiology, Athletic Therapy and so much more! Throughout this article, we will reveal how ICBC can support you after a motor vehicle accident and offer guidance on how you can claim your coverage for your injuries.
What is ICBC and How Does It Work?
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, better known as ICBC is the primary insurance company that all drivers require to register and drive their vehicle in B.C. They provide a range of services including auto insurance, driver licensing, road safety and vehicle registration.
Depending on your auto insurance plan, you may be eligible for extended coverage, including reimbursement for damage during a car accident, coverage for lost or stolen items and even personal care expenses.
Motor Vehicle Accident Coverage
Recently, ICBC has expanded their coverage following all motor vehicle accidents that permit licensed drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists in B.C. to use. Under the Enhanced Accident Benefits plan, which is included in the Basic insurance, every person who is injured in a car accident is entitled to medical and rehabilitation care no matter who is at fault for the accident.
In cases where the severity of your injuries keeps you from returning to work, this insurance will provide income replacement based on 90% of your net income.
What Does ICBC Cover?
Currently, ICBC covers the cost of your initial assessment along with the subsequent 12-25 sessions with your health care practitioner, depending on the treatment option you choose. As of April 1, 2019, ICBC is now the first payer when it comes to your active rehab service.
Some of the top rehab specialties that you can book with include:
- Kinesiology (12+ sessions)
- Athletic Therapy (12+ sessions)
- Massage Therapy (12 sessions)
- Acupuncture (12 sessions)
- Physiotherapy (25 sessions)
- Chiropractic Care (25 sessions)
How To Claim Your Coverage
Before scheduling your initial assessment with an active rehab specialist, you’ll need to claim your coverage by following three simple steps.
Step 1: Report your claim to ICBC
Immediately following your car accident, you’ll need to report a claim to ICBC. This can be done by contacting ICBC directly or submitting your claim online. After this is complete, you’ll be able to check the details of your existing claim and update it when needed.
Next, ICBC recommends you set up a direct deposit to save you time when receiving your injury claim reimbursement.
Step 2: Get a doctor’s referral
If you’re looking to speed up the process to claim your coverage, it may be helpful to get in touch with your doctor to assess your injury and refer you for active rehabilitation. Not only will your doctor’s referral help with the approval process of your ICBC claim but this information is helpful for your rehabilitation therapist to gain more insight and guidance on how to best treat your injuries.
It’s also beneficial to visit your doctor following a motor vehicle accident in the case you require additional assessments (i.e. radiographs, CT scans, psychological assessments, etc.) or prescribed medication to manage your pain.
Step 3: Find a rehabilitation therapist
Once your injury claim has been approved by ICBC coverage, you’re ready to book with a rehabilitation therapist. The question many patients have after their accident is “how do I know which rehabilitation therapist is right for me?”.
Although there are times when specialized recovery programs are required, including physiotherapy treatments, massage therapy and chiropractic care, we want to shift our focus toward both Kinesiology and Athletic Therapy services to determine which may be most beneficial for you.
How a Kinesiologist Can Help You
A Kinesiologist is a highly-trained human movement specialist who has extensive knowledge in anatomy, physiology, neurology and motor control. Following injury from a motor vehicle accident, Kinesiologists can help you manage your pain and improve your symptoms of injury by restoring movement, improving muscle strength and recovering functional motor mechanics.
How an Athletic Therapist Can Help You
An Athletic Therapist is a certified healthcare specialist that works to assess patient injuries and offer active rehab guidance and treatment plans. Using a wide range of skills and techniques including manual therapies, modalities, exercise prescriptions, bracing and taping, athletic therapists are able to effectively treat a wide range of injuries.
The Road to Recovery
Once you’ve submitted your claim for approval on your next visit with a rehabilitation specialist, it’s time to begin your journey to recovery.
Preparing for Your First Visit
Before you attend your initial assessment, it’s important to arrive prepared with all the necessary documents. This includes your Care Card or Provincial Health Number (PHN), your ICBC claim number, the name and contact information of your ICBC case manager and referral documentation from your doctor (if available).
Getting the Most out of Your Rehabilitation Sessions
Throughout the road to recovery, it’s important to commit to getting the most out of your rehabilitation sessions to help you maximize your results and feel better sooner.
Here are some tips to help you out with this:
- Arrive at your sessions 10-15 minutes early
- Wear athletic clothing to allow for functional movement
- Communicate your pain or dysfunction and how it impacts your lifestyle
- Be clear with your rehab therapist about your goals (i.e. pain relief, return to work, increased mobility, etc.)
- Engage in all exercises and self-management as prescribed by your specialist
- Accept the process and be patient. Remember, you may not see immediate results.
Book with Wildewood Health Today
At Wildewood Health, we are committed to offering you guidance, treatment and a detailed rehabilitation plan to support your recovery journey. As a proud service provider of ICBC, we provide our patients with Kinesiology and Athletic Therapy services at no charge and will bill ICBC directly to help further support you through these challenging times.
All accidents that occurred after May 1, 2021, will be pre-approved for 12 Kinesiology or Athletic Therapy sessions. Oftentimes, we continue to see our patients 1-2 times per week for over 12 sessions to help get them on the right path.
Car accident injuries before this date can still be approved for treatment services; however, you’ll need to book an appointment with us first before submitting an ICBC claim.
Connect with Us
For more information about our services or ICBC coverage, connect with over email at admin@wildewoodhealth.com or by calling us at 250-824-0651. We look forward to hearing from you.
