ICBC Chiropractic Coverage: Your Guide To Getting 25 Pre-Approved Chiropractic Sessions After Your Crash

The physical impact of a car crash can leave you with serious injuries that may require chiropractic treatment. If you’ve been in an accident, the last thing you’ll want to worry about is how you’re going to pay for your medical care.

Fortunately, ICBC has you covered. If you’re a resident of British Columbia and you’ve been injured in a car crash, ICBC’s Enhanced Accident Benefits allows you to seek immediate medical care and support—including chiropractic care.

Under the Enhanced Accident Benefits program, ICBC will cover the cost of your first 25 chiropractic treatment sessions in the first 12 weeks after your crash. You don’t need to wait for an ICBC-appointed support and recovery specialist to contact you and you don’t need a doctor’s referral either. All you need is your ICBC claim number, and you can start booking appointments with a chiropractor of your choice right away.

How does it all work? In this article, we’ll go over what you need to know about ICBC’s Enhanced Accident Benefits program and how it provides full coverage for your chiropractic care after your crash.

ICBC’s Enhanced Accident Benefits Provides Immediate Coverage For Medical Care After Your Crash

ICBC’s Enhanced Accident Benefits provide benefits to all British Columbia residents who are injured in a car accident, regardless of who is at fault. In addition to financial assistance for a variety of medical expenses and lost wages, it also provides coverage for a wide range of health care practitioners such as chiropractors, physiotherapists, acupuncturists, counsellors, and more.

Key points about Enhanced Care

–       ICBC covers medical, personal, and travel expenses related to your injury or injuries resulting from an accident.

–       In most cases, ICBC pays medical practitioners and healthcare providers directly. Most amounts covered are set in a fee schedule, established in the Regulation.

–       ICBC pays or reimburses for medical treatment that contributes to your recovery and rehabilitation.

–       ICBC can reimburse your travel expenses to attend medical treatment.

–       You should include legible copies of your original receipts when submitting a claim for medical and personal expenses. Do not include the original receipts as they cannot be returned. You can submit your receipts online at icbc.com/claims

–       **IMPORTANT** Any medical treatment unrelated to your injuries sustained in the crash is not covered.

Immediate and automatic coverage

What’s great is that you are eligible for care and treatment right away. For example, you’re automatically covered for 25 chiropractic treatments for the first 12 weeks after an accident. You don’t need to wait for a support and recovery specialist to contact you and you also don’t need a doctor’s referral either.

However, it’s important to note that to access these benefits you need to first report the accident and get an ICBC claim number. Once obtained, you’re free to book an appointment with your preferred chiropractor immediately and begin your journey to recovery.

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Here’s What ICBC Will Pay For Your Chiropractic Treatments

ICBC is the first payer for acupuncture, chiropractic, counselling, physiotherapy, kinesiology, massage therapy, and psychology treatments. According to ICBC’s Enhanced Care fee guide, the number of approved treatments and the amount covered by ICBC will depend on the type of practitioner you need to see.

ICBC will provide coverage for the cost of your first 25 chiropractic treatment sessions for the first 12 weeks after your crash. However, they will only cover the standard treatment fees, which are $56 per chiropractic session. ICBC customers who choose to visit a health care provider that charges a higher rate than what ICBC funds will not be able to recover the user fees from ICBC.

Below are the number of approved treatments for each type of practitioner and the corresponding fees that are covered:

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Furthermore, pre-authorized treatments are limited to one treatment modality type a day, but there is no restriction to the combination of pre-authorized treatments. For example, a patient may attend a chiropractic treatment and a massage treatment, but not two chiropractic treatments on the same day.

More To Know About Booking Your First Chiropractic Appointment

What should you bring to your first chiropractic appointment after a car accident?

You should bring your ICBC claim number and any relevant medical records or documents related to your accident.

Can you see any chiropractor or do you have to go to a specific one?

You can see any chiropractor of your choice. However, you may want to check with your chiropractor before starting your treatment sessions to confirm that they will bill ICBC directly. If they don’t directly bill ICBC, you may need to submit receipts to get reimbursed.

Can I get chiropractic care and other types of treatment at the same time?

Yes, you can receive chiropractic treatment and other different types of treatments such as physiotherapy and massage therapy at the same time. However, you can not have two of the same types of treatments on the same day (i.e. you can’t have two chiropractic sessions on the same day).

Can I get chiropractic care if I was at fault in the accident?

Yes, under ICBC’s Enhanced Accident Benefits program, all B.C. residents injured in a car crash are entitled to access the care they need right away, whether they were at fault or not.

Why Should You See A Chiropractor After Your Crash? Benefits and Treatments

There are several reasons why it may be beneficial to see a chiropractor after a car accident. Some of the benefits include:

Pain relief

Chiropractors use techniques such as spinal adjustments and manipulations to help realign the spine and other joints, reduce pain, and improve range of motion. This can help to alleviate pain and discomfort in the neck, back, and other areas of the body that may have been affected by the car accident. Chiropractic care can also help to reduce inflammation in the body through the reduction of neuropeptides, which can improve the healing process and reduce the risk of chronic pain.

Improved function

The nervous system controls and coordinates all of the body’s functions, and a misalignment in the spine can interfere with the proper function of the nervous system. Chiropractic care can help to improve the overall function of the nervous system, which can help with the body’s ability to heal and recover from the trauma of a car accident.

Prevention of secondary conditions

Car accidents can cause a chain reaction of injury. For example, a whiplash can cause headaches, tension in the neck, and upper or lower back pain. Chiropractic care can help to prevent secondary conditions from developing by addressing the root cause of the problem. A chiropractor will use a variety of techniques to help diagnose and correct the underlying cause of your pain, rather than just treating the symptoms.

Help with emotional and psychological stress

A car accident can also lead to emotional and psychological stress, which can cause muscle tension and contribute to the development of subluxations (aka misalignment of vertebrae). Chiropractic care can help to reduce the emotional and psychological stress caused by the accident and help the patient to relax and recover.

Non-invasive treatment

Chiropractic care is a non-invasive treatment option that does not involve the use of surgery or medication, making it a safe and effective option for individuals of all ages.

Cost-effectiveness

Chiropractic care is often considered a cost-effective option for treating injuries and conditions related to car accidents. The ICBC Enhanced Accident Benefits program covers the cost of your first 25 chiropractic treatment sessions after your crash, which can help to reduce the financial burden of recovery.

What Is An ICBC Chiropractic Initial Report?

ICBC may request your medical records after an automobile accident. A chiropractor will discuss with you the purpose of the reports and request your consent to share the reports with ICBC. However, by law, chiropractors must provide these reports, even if you do not sign an authorization form.

ICBC’s chiropractic initial report form can be found here (only required for patients whose crash occurred prior to May 1, 2021). ICBC’s Chiropractic Progress Report can be found here (only completed upon request).

Book Your 25 ICBC Chiropractic Sessions with Latitude Wellness in Vancouver Today

Chiropractic care can be a valuable tool for managing the physical and emotional effects of a car accident. The ICBC Enhanced Accident Benefits program provides coverage for the cost of your first 25 chiropractic treatment sessions after your crash, which can help you to focus on your recovery without having to worry about the financial burden of paying out of pocket.

At Latitude Wellness, we offer chiropractic treatment without any upfront cost because we directly bill ICBC for your chiropractic sessions.

Our team of experienced chiropractors are dedicated to helping patients recover from their injuries after a car accident. When you visit our office, we’ll conduct a thorough assessment to diagnose the underlying issues and create a plan that makes sense for you and your health concerns. Treatment generally consists of manual or assisted adjustments, cold laser therapy, and soft tissue mobilization as part of your treatment plan.

At Lattitude Wellness, we are committed to lifelong learning and excellence. Our goal is to form a collaborative partnership with you and find ways to help you thrive.

If you’ve been in an accident and require chiropractic treatment in Vancouver, or if you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact us here or book an appointment below.