If you’re searching for acupuncture direct billing in Richmond, the appeal is simple: you’d rather not float the full cost of a treatment and wait weeks for your insurer to mail a cheque. Artemis offers acupuncture direct billing Richmond patients can use right at checkout. At Artemis Wellness Clinic — 5911 No. 3 Road #130, Richmond, BC V6X 0K9, a 3-minute walk from Brighouse SkyTrain and directly across from Pricesmart Ackroyd — direct billing means you don’t pay upfront. With most extended-health plans, many patients pay little or nothing out of pocket per acupuncture visit; we submit the claim electronically at the front desk, and you settle only the portion your plan doesn’t cover. Evening and Saturday appointments are available, and your acupuncture is provided by registered practitioners, including Mandy Tam, R.Ac (founder) and Ethan Choi, R.Ac, R.TCMP, DOMP. To book, call 604-242-2233 or visit artemis.janeapp.com — reception will confirm your coverage while you book.
How acupuncture direct billing works at Artemis
Direct billing removes the paperwork from your side of the table. Here is the full flow, start to finish:
- Share your plan details before your first visit. Give us your insurer name, member/certificate ID, and policy/group number when you book — by phone, or through the intake form on JaneApp. Reception can check whether acupuncture is in your plan and whether direct billing is supported before you arrive.
- Come in for treatment and sign a one-time authorization. On your first visit, your Registered Acupuncturist completes an assessment and your acupuncture session. You sign a short, one-time consent that lets us bill your insurer on your behalf — you won’t need to repeat it each visit.
- We submit the claim electronically at checkout. As you check out, we send the claim through TELUS Health eClaims (or the insurer’s own portal). For most plans the adjudication response comes back in seconds, showing exactly what your plan will pay.
- You pay only the uncovered portion. If your plan covers the visit in full, you pay nothing. If there’s a co-pay, an annual maximum has been reached, or a per-visit cap applies, you pay just that remainder at the desk. Many patients pay little or nothing, but the exact amount depends on your plan.
We handle acupuncture, RMT massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic, kinesiology, and osteopathy under one roof, so the same front-desk team manages your claims across disciplines. Note that kinesiology is not a college-regulated health profession in BC; insurer coverage for kinesiology varies and is not guaranteed. For a wider view of how multi-insurer billing works here, see our direct billing and insurance guide for Richmond.
What acupuncture coverage typically looks like
Acupuncture is a regulated health profession in British Columbia. Registered Acupuncturists and Registered TCM Practitioners are licensed by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC) — you can confirm any practitioner’s registration on the CCHPBC public register. Because acupuncture is performed by a registered, regulated provider, most extended-health plans treat it as an eligible paramedical service.
Here’s the honest pattern across common plans:
- Extended-health (employer or personal plans). Most plans include acupuncture in a paramedical pool with an annual limit set by your contract, when treatment is delivered by a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac). Some plans set a per-visit dollar cap, some require a doctor’s referral, and some bundle acupuncture together with other paramedical services in a shared annual limit. The exact figure depends entirely on your specific contract.
- ICBC (motor-vehicle injury claims). ICBC funds acupuncture for approved claims as part of recovery after a crash, often within a set number of pre-approved sessions. If you have a claim number, we can bill ICBC directly. Learn more on our ICBC-approved clinic page.
- WorkSafeBC (workplace injury claims). WorkSafeBC covers acupuncture for accepted claims when it’s part of your approved treatment plan. See our WorkSafeBC direct billing page for details.
One honest caveat: cosmetic or purely elective acupuncture is usually not covered by extended-health plans. Coverage is generally tied to treatment for a health condition, not aesthetic goals. Because every plan is written differently, always verify the specifics with your insurer or our front desk before you assume a dollar amount.
What you’ll actually pay — three worked examples
The figures below are illustrative only, using a realistic Richmond acupuncture session rate of $110–$160. Your actual cost depends on your plan, your remaining annual maximum, and any per-visit cap, and it can be higher than the examples shown. These are meant to show the mechanics of direct billing, not to promise a result or quote a price.
Example 1 — Plan covers 100% up to a per-visit cap.
A 60-minute initial acupuncture session is billed at $140. The patient’s plan pays acupuncture at 100% up to $140 per visit, with annual room remaining. The insurer pays $140; the patient pays $0 at the desk.
Example 2 — Plan pays 80%, patient covers the rest.
A follow-up acupuncture session is billed at $120. The plan reimburses 80% of eligible paramedical costs. The insurer pays $96; the patient pays the remaining $24 at the desk.
Example 3 — Plan pays 70% on a higher session rate.
A session is billed at $160. The plan reimburses acupuncture at 70% of the eligible amount, with annual room remaining. The insurer pays $112; the patient pays the remaining $48 at the desk — a reminder that out-of-pocket cost can exceed a small co-pay depending on your coverage percentage and any cap.
As these examples show, out-of-pocket cost varies by plan: some patients pay nothing, while others pay a co-pay that can be larger when coverage is partial or a cap applies. For a deeper breakdown of session pricing and how it interacts with coverage, read our Richmond acupuncture cost and direct billing guide.
How to verify your coverage in two minutes
You don’t have to guess what your plan includes. Pick whichever route is easiest:
- Insurer portal or app. Log in to your insurer’s member website or mobile app and look for “acupuncture” under paramedical or extended-health benefits. It will usually list your annual maximum, any per-visit cap, your co-insurance percentage, and whether a referral is required.
- Phone your insurer. Call the member-services number on the back of your benefits card and ask three questions: Is acupuncture by a Registered Acupuncturist covered? What’s my annual maximum and how much is left? Is a physician referral required?
- Or just call us. Phone 604-242-2233 with your insurer name and member ID, and reception will check whether acupuncture is covered and whether we can direct-bill your plan — usually while you’re still on the line.
Why patients choose Artemis for acupuncture direct billing
A few practical reasons patients book their acupuncture here:
- Six disciplines under one roof. RMT massage therapy, acupuncture and TCM, physiotherapy, chiropractic, kinesiology, and osteopathy all operate from one Richmond location, so a recovery plan that mixes acupuncture with massage or physio is coordinated by one team. (Note: kinesiology is not a college-regulated health profession in BC, and insurer coverage for kinesiology varies and is not guaranteed.)
- Shared charts across your care. When more than one practitioner is involved in your treatment, your records sit in one system — no repeating your history at every appointment.
- Daily claim handling. Our front desk submits direct-billing claims through TELUS Health eClaims and insurer portals every day, including ICBC, WorkSafeBC, and most major extended-health insurers and 20+ plans. Whether your specific acupuncture benefit is direct-billable depends on your plan.
- Registered, multilingual practitioners. Acupuncture is provided by registered providers — Mandy Tam, R.Ac, who speaks English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, and Ethan Choi, R.Ac, R.TCMP, DOMP, who speaks English and Korean. New to acupuncture and not sure where to start? Our guide on how to choose an acupuncturist in Richmond walks through what to look for.
- Easy to reach, easy to schedule. Three minutes from Brighouse SkyTrain, directly across from Pricesmart Ackroyd, with evening and Saturday appointments. The clinic is highly rated by patients on Google.
What to bring on your first visit
To make direct billing fast and accurate, bring:
- Your insurance/benefits card (or a photo of it) showing your insurer, member/certificate ID, and policy/group number.
- Government-issued photo ID.
- Any referral or prescription if your plan requires one for acupuncture.
- Your claim number if you’re being treated under an ICBC or WorkSafeBC claim.
- Spouse or family plan details, if you’re coordinating benefits across two plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay anything upfront for acupuncture?
With most extended-health plans, no — you don’t pay upfront. We submit the claim electronically at checkout and you pay only the uncovered portion. Many patients pay little or nothing, though the amount depends on your plan. If your plan can’t be direct-billed, you pay at the desk and we give you an itemized receipt to claim yourself.
How much does acupuncture cost in Richmond?
A typical acupuncture session here is roughly $110–$160 depending on length and whether it’s an initial assessment or a follow-up. Your out-of-pocket cost is usually lower once your plan pays its share, though how much lower depends on your coverage percentage and any per-visit cap. See our cost and direct billing guide for a fuller breakdown.
Which insurers can you direct-bill for acupuncture?
We direct-bill ICBC, WorkSafeBC, and most major extended-health insurers — 20+ plans in all — through TELUS Health eClaims. Whether your specific acupuncture benefit is direct-billable depends on your plan, so call us with your member ID and we’ll confirm.
Is acupuncture actually covered by my extended-health plan?
Most extended-health plans include acupuncture in a paramedical pool with an annual limit set by your contract, when it’s performed by a Registered Acupuncturist. Coverage, caps, and referral rules vary by contract, so verify with your insurer or our front desk before you book.
Do I need a doctor’s referral?
Some plans require a physician referral for acupuncture and some don’t. It’s a plan-specific rule — check your benefits booklet, your insurer’s app, or ask our reception to look into it for you.
Can you bill acupuncture under my ICBC or WorkSafeBC claim?
Yes, for approved claims. If you have a claim number, bring it to your first visit and we can bill ICBC or WorkSafeBC directly within your approved treatment plan.
Is cosmetic acupuncture covered?
Usually not. Extended-health plans generally cover acupuncture for a health condition rather than cosmetic or purely elective treatment. Check with your insurer if you’re unsure how your plan classifies a particular service.
Book your acupuncture appointment
Ready to book acupuncture with direct billing? Call 604-242-2233 or book online at artemis.janeapp.com. Find us at 5911 No. 3 Road #130, Richmond, BC V6X 0K9 — 3 minutes from Brighouse SkyTrain, directly across from Pricesmart Ackroyd, with evening and Saturday appointments. Have your insurer name and member ID ready and reception will confirm your coverage while you book.
This page explains billing and insurance administration only and is not medical advice; coverage depends on your individual plan, so please verify details with your insurer or our front desk. Acupuncture eligibility under any plan is determined by your insurer.
