Osteopathy cost in Richmond is the first question we hear from prospective patients, followed closely by “will my insurance cover it?” The honest answer to the second question is: it depends on your plan more than it does for massage therapy or physiotherapy, so it’s worth verifying before you book.
This page lays out typical osteopathy fees in Richmond, explains how extended-health coverage for osteopathy actually works (including where it doesn’t), and walks through how direct billing applies at Artemis Wellness Clinic, located at 5911 No. 3 Road #130, Richmond, BC V6X 0K9 — about 3 minutes’ walk from Brighouse SkyTrain. Our osteopathic manual practitioner is Ethan Choi, R.Ac, R.TCMP, DOMP, DO(Spain), who offers sessions in English and Korean, with evening and Saturday appointments available. You can book online through JaneApp.
Not sure what your plan covers? Call us at 604-242-2233 before you book — our front desk checks osteopathy coverage and direct-billing eligibility with patients every day, and it usually takes just a few minutes.
What osteopathy costs in Richmond
Across Richmond and Metro Vancouver, osteopathy sessions with a manual osteopathic practitioner typically run in the range of $120–$175 per session, depending on the practitioner’s training, session length, and whether it’s an initial assessment or a follow-up. Initial visits are usually longer and sit at the higher end; follow-ups are often shorter and less expensive.
These figures are illustrative market ranges, not a quote — please confirm Artemis’s current osteopathy rates with our front desk at 604-242-2233 or check live pricing when you book through JaneApp.
One practical note: osteopathic manual practitioners are relatively rare in Richmond and across Metro Vancouver compared with RMTs or physiotherapists, so appointment availability can be tighter than for other disciplines. If you’re new to this type of care, our overview of what osteopathy is and how it works is a good place to start.
Does insurance cover osteopathy?
Here is the honest picture, because this is where osteopathy differs from RMT massage or physiotherapy:
Many extended-health plans do cover osteopathy — but coverage varies far more than it does for RMT or physio. A large number of group benefits plans in BC include “osteopath” or “osteopathic practitioner” under paramedical benefits, usually with an annual dollar cap (commonly somewhere in the $300–$1,000 per year range across plans, often shared per practitioner type). However:
- Some plans exclude osteopathy entirely, even when they cover massage therapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic. You cannot assume osteopathy is included just because your other paramedical benefits are generous.
- Some insurers require the practitioner to belong to a recognized professional association before they’ll reimburse claims. This is one reason credentials matter when choosing a qualified osteopath in Richmond — ask any clinic which association their practitioner belongs to and confirm your insurer accepts it.
- MSP does not cover osteopathy. BC’s Medical Services Plan provides no funding for osteopathic manual treatment.
- ICBC and WorkSafeBC funding for osteopathy is limited and case-specific. Unlike physiotherapy or massage therapy, osteopathy is not part of the standard pre-approved treatment framework after a crash or workplace injury. In some cases an adjuster may approve it; in many they won’t. Verify directly with your adjuster before booking, and consider whether a covered discipline is the better starting point for your claim.
One more point of plain honesty: osteopathic manual practice is not a college-regulated health profession in BC. At Artemis, Ethan Choi’s Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac) and Registered TCM Practitioner (R.TCMP) designations are regulated by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC, and that regulatory accountability is part of why patients and some insurers take his practice seriously. His DOMP and DO(Spain) are osteopathic manual-practice qualifications, not medical degrees.
The bottom line: always verify with your insurer or our front desk before booking. Two employees at the same company can have different osteopathy coverage depending on plan tier.
How direct billing works for osteopathy at Artemis
Artemis Wellness Clinic offers direct billing to 20+ insurers including Pacific Blue Cross, Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, and Green Shield Canada, largely through TELUS Health eClaims, as well as ICBC and WorkSafeBC billing clinic-wide (note: ICBC/WorkSafeBC approval for osteopathy specifically is limited and case-by-case — see above). Where your plan covers osteopathy and the insurer supports direct billing, you pay only the uncovered portion at the desk — for some patients that’s $0–$30, but it depends entirely on your plan, and some plans don’t cover osteopathy at all.
For osteopathy specifically, here’s the four-step flow:
- Tell us your insurer when you book. Call 604-242-2233 or note it when booking on JaneApp. We’ll flag whether your insurer supports osteopathy eClaims.
- We confirm direct-billing eligibility. Not every insurer that direct-bills for RMT or physio supports osteopathy through TELUS Health eClaims — we check before your visit so there are no surprises.
- You have your session with Ethan. Initial visits include an assessment of your history and movement before hands-on treatment.
- At checkout, we submit the claim where supported — you pay only the portion your plan doesn’t cover. If your plan doesn’t support direct billing for osteopathy, we give you an itemized official receipt with all the details your insurer needs, and you submit it yourself online — reimbursement often arrives within a few business days, depending on your insurer’s processing times.
What you’ll actually pay — three worked examples
These examples are illustrative only — real numbers depend entirely on your plan. Assume a $140 session for simplicity.
Example 1: Plan covers 80% of osteopathy, direct billing supported. We submit at checkout; your insurer pays $112 and you pay $28 at the desk. If your plan resembles a typical Pacific Blue Cross extended-health setup, this is roughly how the flow feels — but percentages and caps vary by employer group.
Example 2: Plan covers 100% up to a $500 annual cap, no osteopathy direct billing. You pay $140 at the desk, submit the itemized receipt through your insurer’s portal, and are reimbursed in full — until your annual cap runs out, after which further sessions are out of pocket for the rest of the benefit year. Many Sun Life plans work on a cap structure like this; check yours for the exact figure.
Example 3: Plan excludes osteopathy. You pay the full $140 out of pocket. If your plan includes a Health Care Spending Account (HCSA), ask your plan administrator whether osteopathy receipts qualify under your HCSA — eligibility is not guaranteed and can be limited in BC.
How to verify your osteopathy coverage in two minutes
Before your first visit, do one of the following:
- Check your insurer’s portal or app. Look under paramedical or extended-health benefits for “osteopath” or “osteopathic practitioner.” Note the percentage covered, the annual maximum, and any per-visit limit.
- Call the number on your benefits card. Ask three questions: Is osteopathy covered? Does my plan require the practitioner to belong to a specific association? Does my plan support direct billing for osteopathy?
- Call us at 604-242-2233. Give the front desk your insurer’s name and we’ll tell you whether we can direct-bill osteopathy for that insurer and what to verify on your end.
Why patients choose Artemis for osteopathy
- A rare service, locally available. Osteopathic manual practitioners are uncommon in Richmond; Ethan Choi offers osteopathy alongside acupuncture and TCM at one clinic.
- Layered, regulated credentials. Ethan holds R.Ac and R.TCMP registrations with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC in addition to his DOMP and DO(Spain) osteopathic training.
- Six disciplines under one roof. RMT massage therapy, Acupuncture & TCM, Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Kinesiology, and Osteopathy — useful when your coverage favours one discipline over another, or when a combined approach makes sense.
- Direct billing infrastructure already in place for 20+ insurers via TELUS Health eClaims, with honest, plan-by-plan answers about what osteopathy coverage applies.
- Convenient location and hours. 5911 No. 3 Road #130, Richmond, BC V6X 0K9 — 3 minutes’ walk from Brighouse SkyTrain, with evening and Saturday appointments.
- English and Korean service for osteopathy sessions with Ethan.
When to see a doctor first
A safety note before any manual therapy: if you have new numbness or weakness, changes in bowel or bladder control, a sudden severe (“thunderclap”) headache, unexplained fever with back or neck pain, or pain following significant trauma, see your family doctor first, call 811, or go to emergency. Osteopathy is not a substitute for medical assessment of red-flag symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does osteopathy cost in Richmond?
Typical sessions with an osteopathic manual practitioner in Richmond run roughly $120–$175, with initial assessments at the higher end and follow-ups often lower. These are illustrative market figures — confirm Artemis’s current rates with our front desk at 604-242-2233 or via the JaneApp booking page.
Does extended health insurance cover osteopathy in BC?
Many extended-health plans include osteopathy under paramedical benefits with an annual cap, but coverage varies more than for RMT or physiotherapy. Some plans exclude osteopathy entirely, and some insurers require the practitioner to belong to a recognized professional association. Verify with your insurer or our front desk before booking.
Is osteopathy covered by MSP?
No. BC’s Medical Services Plan does not cover osteopathic manual treatment. Coverage, where it exists, comes through extended-health benefits, an HCSA, or out-of-pocket payment.
Does ICBC or WorkSafeBC pay for osteopathy?
Only in limited, case-specific situations. Osteopathy is not part of the standard pre-approved treatment framework after a crash or workplace injury, so approval rests with your adjuster. Verify directly with your adjuster before booking, or call us and we’ll help you sort out which disciplines your claim covers.
Can Artemis direct-bill my insurer for osteopathy?
Where your insurer supports osteopathy claims through TELUS Health eClaims, yes — we submit at checkout and you pay only the uncovered portion. If your plan doesn’t support direct billing for osteopathy, we provide an itemized receipt so you can claim reimbursement yourself. Call 604-242-2233 with your insurer’s name and we’ll confirm.
Why does my plan cover massage therapy but not osteopathy?
Insurers set paramedical categories plan by plan, and osteopathic manual practice is not a college-regulated health profession in BC, which leads some plans to treat it differently from RMT or physiotherapy. Ethan Choi’s R.Ac and R.TCMP registrations are regulated by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC, which provides a regulated accountability layer alongside his osteopathic training.
Is an initial osteopathy visit more expensive than a follow-up?
Usually, yes. Initial visits include a fuller history and assessment and run longer, so they typically sit at the upper end of the fee range, while follow-ups are shorter and cost less. Exact rates are confirmed at booking.
Book an Osteopathy Session in Richmond
Ready to try osteopathy, or want to confirm your coverage first? Call 604-242-2233 or book online with Ethan Choi at Artemis Wellness Clinic — 5911 No. 3 Road #130, Richmond, BC V6X 0K9, 3 minutes’ walk from Brighouse SkyTrain, with evening and Saturday appointments available.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; insurance details are illustrative — verify coverage with your insurer.
