Payment of Physiotherapy Services

Over the last 15 years there has been steady erosion in the availability of publicly funded physiotherapy services, particularly through hospital out-patient clinics due to cost cutting by government and hospitals in response to strained fiscal situations. The result is that physiotherapy services have become increasingly more privately funded.

Many people either self-pay or have some coverage for physiotherapy through insurance plans. Insurers include the Workers' Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and insurance coverage through employer-provided or private Extended Health Benefits (EHB) plans and Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) coverage through automobile insurers.

Physiotherapy provided in hospitals is covered under the hospitals global operating budget. Seniors, youth and other categories of patients may obtain OHIP physiotherapy at Designated Physiotherapy Clinics.