If you’re looking for physiotherapy direct billing Richmond patients can use without paying upfront, you’re in the right place — with extended-health coverage, ICBC, or a WorkSafeBC claim, you shouldn’t have to float the full cost and chase a reimbursement cheque for weeks. At Artemis Wellness Clinic — 5911 No. 3 Road #130, Richmond, BC V6X 0K9, just 3 minutes’ walk from Brighouse SkyTrain and directly across from Pricesmart Ackroyd — physiotherapy direct billing means you don’t pay upfront. We submit your claim electronically while you’re at the desk, and with most extended-health plans most patients pay only $0–$30 out of pocket per visit. Evening and Saturday appointments are available, so treatment fits around your work week.
Physiotherapy is a regulated health profession in BC, and our care is provided by registered physiotherapists. When it helps, your physiotherapy can be coordinated with RMT massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, and kinesiology (a non-college-regulated discipline in BC) under one roof — useful when an injury needs more than one approach.
📞 Call 604-242-2233 or visit artemis.janeapp.com — reception will confirm your coverage while you book.
How physiotherapy direct billing works at Artemis
Direct billing removes the paperwork most people dread. Here’s the full flow, start to finish:
- Give us your insurer details before your first visit. When you book, have your member ID, policy/group number, and insurer name ready (or your ICBC claim number / WorkSafeBC claim number). Reception will check whether your plan allows direct (assignment-of-benefits) billing for physiotherapy.
- Come in for treatment, with a one-time setup. Your registered physiotherapist assesses you and starts care. On the first visit we set up a one-time authorization so we can bill your insurer on your behalf going forward.
- We submit the claim electronically at checkout. When your session ends, we send the claim through TELUS Health eClaims (or directly to ICBC / WorkSafeBC). For most extended-health plans the response comes back in seconds, showing how much your insurer will pay.
- You pay only the uncovered portion. Whatever your plan doesn’t cover — typically $0–$30 with most extended-health plans — you settle at the desk. No forms to mail, no waiting for a cheque.
We direct bill ICBC, WorkSafeBC, Pacific Blue Cross, Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Green Shield Canada, and 20+ insurers through TELUS Health eClaims. If you’re comparing how different plans handle claims, our direct billing insurance overview walks through the common setups.
What physiotherapy coverage typically looks like
Coverage varies a lot by plan, so treat the following as typical patterns rather than promises — always verify the specifics with your insurer or our front desk.
Extended-health (workplace or private) plans. Most extended-health plans include physiotherapy, commonly with an annual maximum somewhere in the $500–$1,500/year range. Some plans cover a percentage (for example 80%) up to that cap; others pay a flat amount per visit. A few plans ask for a doctor’s referral before they’ll reimburse, so it’s worth checking that detail. Once we know your plan, we can usually tell you on the spot how a typical visit will be split between insurer-paid and desk-paid.
ICBC (Enhanced Care). If you’ve been in a motor-vehicle collision and have an active ICBC claim, physiotherapy is often covered for approved treatment — frequently at $0 out of pocket within ICBC’s funded amounts and approved number of sessions. See our ICBC physiotherapy in Richmond page for how to start care after an accident.
WorkSafeBC. If your injury happened at work and you have an accepted WorkSafeBC claim, approved physiotherapy is typically covered with no cost to you. We bill WorkSafeBC directly; our WorkSafeBC direct billing page covers what to bring.
The two big extended-health insurers we see most often each have their own portals and rules — here are quick references for Pacific Blue Cross direct billing and Sun Life direct billing. Many other plans run through TELUS Health eClaims.
What you’ll actually pay — three worked examples
A physiotherapy session in Richmond commonly runs in the $95–$135 range depending on length and complexity. The figures below are illustrative only — your real split depends entirely on your specific plan, so please confirm with your insurer or our front desk.
Example 1 — Extended-health plan, 80% coverage.
Session fee: $115. Your plan covers physiotherapy at 80% with room left in your annual maximum. Insurer pays $92; you pay $23 at the desk. We submit the claim electronically, so you only hand over the uncovered $23.
Example 2 — Plan with a per-visit cap.
Session fee: $125. Your plan pays a flat $110 per physiotherapy visit. Insurer pays $110; you pay the $15 difference at checkout. Once you hit your annual maximum for the year, you’d pay the full fee — which is why it helps to know your remaining balance.
Example 3 — Active ICBC claim.
Session fee: $95 (within ICBC’s funded amount for an approved claim). ICBC pays the approved amount directly; your out-of-pocket is $0 for that visit. We bill ICBC for you, so there’s nothing to submit yourself.
These numbers show how the split usually works, not what your plan will pay. Two patients with the same employer can have different physiotherapy coverage, so a two-minute check before your first visit saves surprises. For a broader cost walk-through across disciplines, our Richmond direct billing cost guide is a helpful companion read.
How to verify your coverage in two minutes
You don’t need to be an insurance expert. Any one of these will tell you what you need to know:
- Your insurer’s member portal or app. Log in and look for “Paramedical” or “Physiotherapy” benefits — you’ll usually see your annual maximum, percentage covered, and how much you’ve used so far this year.
- The phone number on your benefits card. Call your insurer’s member line and ask: “Is physiotherapy covered, what’s my annual maximum, do I need a doctor’s referral, and do you allow direct billing?”
- Check whether a referral is required. A small number of plans want a physician’s referral on file before they reimburse physiotherapy. Knowing this in advance keeps your claim clean.
- Or just call us. Reception deals with these plans every day. Call 604-242-2233 with your card handy and we’ll help confirm how direct billing will work for you.
Why patients choose Artemis for physiotherapy direct billing
- Five disciplines under one roof. RMT massage therapy, acupuncture & TCM, physiotherapy, chiropractic, and kinesiology (a non-college-regulated discipline in BC) — so a complex injury can be managed by a coordinated team rather than scattered across clinics.
- Shared charts. When your physiotherapist and, say, your RMT or kinesiologist work from the same record, your care plan stays consistent and you don’t repeat your history at every visit.
- Claims handled daily. We submit physiotherapy claims electronically every day through TELUS Health eClaims and directly to ICBC and WorkSafeBC, so the process is routine, not an exception.
- Convenient location and hours. We’re 3 minutes’ walk from Brighouse SkyTrain, directly across from Pricesmart Ackroyd, with evening and Saturday appointments. See our patient reviews on Google.
Care is delivered by experienced practitioners across the clinic, including founder Mandy Tam, R.Ac, RMT Director Dave Tam, RMT, and registered acupuncturist Ethan Choi, R.Ac, R.TCMP — so if your recovery calls for more than physiotherapy alone, the right discipline is already in the building.
What to bring on your first visit
- Your insurance card or the member details (insurer name, member ID, policy/group number) — or your ICBC claim number / WorkSafeBC claim number.
- A piece of photo ID.
- Any doctor’s referral or imaging reports if you have them (and a referral if your plan requires one).
- Comfortable clothing you can move in, plus a list of current medications and a short note on what brought you in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really not pay upfront for physiotherapy?
In most cases, no. When your plan allows direct billing, we submit the claim at checkout and you pay only the uncovered portion — typically $0–$30 with most extended-health plans. If your plan doesn’t permit direct billing, you’d pay at the desk and submit for reimbursement yourself, and we’ll give you everything you need for that.
Is physiotherapy regulated in BC?
Yes. Physiotherapy is a regulated health profession overseen by the College of Physical Therapists of BC, and our care is provided by registered physiotherapists. That regulation is also why most insurers recognize physiotherapy as a reimbursable paramedical service.
How much will my insurer actually pay?
That depends entirely on your plan — your annual maximum, the percentage or per-visit amount covered, and how much you’ve already used this year. We can’t guarantee a figure, but once we see your plan details we can estimate the split. Please verify the specifics with your insurer or our front desk.
Do I need a doctor’s referral?
Not to see a physiotherapist — you can book directly. However, a small number of insurance plans require a physician’s referral before they reimburse physiotherapy, so check your plan to keep your claim clean.
Can you direct bill ICBC and WorkSafeBC for physiotherapy?
Yes. For approved ICBC (Enhanced Care) and accepted WorkSafeBC claims, we bill the program directly and approved physiotherapy is often at $0 out of pocket within their funded amounts. Bring your claim number to your first visit.
Which insurers do you direct bill?
ICBC, WorkSafeBC, Pacific Blue Cross, Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Green Shield Canada, and 20+ insurers through TELUS Health eClaims. If you’re unsure whether yours is included, call us and we’ll check.
Can I combine physiotherapy with massage or acupuncture?
Yes. Many patients pair physiotherapy with RMT massage, acupuncture, or kinesiology (a non-college-regulated discipline in BC) for the same injury. Each discipline bills under its own benefit category, and we coordinate care from a shared chart. Note that combining services uses separate portions of your coverage, so it’s worth confirming each benefit’s annual maximum.
Book your physiotherapy direct-billing appointment
Ready to start? Call 604-242-2233 or book online at artemis.janeapp.com. Reception will confirm your coverage while you book, so you’ll know your expected out-of-pocket before you arrive.
Artemis Wellness Clinic — 5911 No. 3 Road #130, Richmond, BC V6X 0K9. 3 minutes’ walk from Brighouse SkyTrain, directly across from Pricesmart Ackroyd. Evening & Saturday appointments available.
This page explains billing and coverage for informational purposes only and is not medical advice; coverage depends on your specific insurance plan — please verify with your insurer or our front desk, and consult a registered physiotherapist about your individual condition.
