ICBC Counselling Coverage: Your Guide To Getting 12 Pre-Approved Counselling Sessions After Your Accident
A car accident can be traumatic. If you’ve been involved in a car crash, it’s very common to experience emotional and psychological distress that can leave you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, and on edge.
While medical treatment may address physical injuries, counselling can be an important part of the recovery process for those dealing with the psychological effects of a crash. Fortunately, if you’re a resident of British Columbia, you can get counselling fully covered by ICBC. More importantly, you don’t have to wait for approval from ICBC or obtain a doctor’s referral to begin getting the care you need for your mental health.
Here’s what you need to know about getting accident counselling that is fully covered by ICBC after your crash.
What Is ICBC’s No Fault Model and What Are ICBC Enhanced Accident Benefits?
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, or ICBC, has adopted what’s known as a “no fault” insurance model.
The “no-fault” insurance model is a type of insurance coverage that provides financial support, care, and recovery benefits to individuals who have been injured in a car crash, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. The B.C. provincial legislature passed Bill 11 in 2020 and on May 1, 2021, ICBC and the Government of B.C. launched Enhanced Care, a new way of doing auto insurance in the province.
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Under ICBC’s Enhanced Accident Benefits, all B.C. residents injured in a car crash can see a healthcare practitioner of their choice right away, regardless of who is responsible (at fault) in the crash.
Even non-drivers like cyclists and pedestrians are covered. As long as you’re a B.C. resident, you do not need to purchase ICBC insurance to be eligible to receive care and recovery benefits if you’re injured in a crash with a vehicle. Cyclists and pedestrians have access to the same full range of care and recovery benefits as drivers, including income replacement benefits if they’re unable to work, and additional benefits in the event of a serious or life-altering injury.
What Medical Care and Treatments Are Covered By ICBC?
For the first 12 weeks after your crash, you can immediately seek treatment with a health care practitioner without a doctor’s referral. Once you get your ICBC claim number, you can begin seeking treatment from a:
– Registered massage therapist
– Kinesiologist
– Psychologist
However, there are limits to the number of treatments and the fees that ICBC will automatically cover. For example, ICBC covers 12 clinical counselling sessions for up to $127 per session. Below are the number of approved treatments for each type of practitioner:
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How To Get 12 Counselling Sessions Fully Covered By ICBC After Your Crash
ICBC aims to make the claims and treatment process simple, quick, and hassle-free. To begin seeing a clinical counsellor after a 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.
Here’s how the process works:
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Report the crash to ICBC: This includes crashes involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles. To receive no-fault benefits including counselling, you must file an initial report with ICBC as soon as possible. This will ensure that your claim is processed and that you can receive the appropriate benefits and support.
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See a health practitioner of your choice: You can access all regulated health profession colleges through BC Health Regulators. For unregulated professions, such as kinesiologists, and clinical counsellors, you can visit their association websites.
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Provider bills ICBC directly for accident counselling sessions: Most practitioners bill ICBC directly, so you won’t have to submit receipts for reimbursement or be out of pocket. In the event that some fees exceed amounts covered by ICBC, other insurance coverage (for example, with your employer) may be used to cover the difference.
**If your care provider doesn’t bill ICBC directly, you can submit your receipts for review to see if they are eligible for reimbursement. If your crash occurred on or after May 1, 2021, please send your receipts within 180 days of the treatment or purchase date to be eligible for consideration. If your crash occurred between April 1, 2019, and April 30, 2021, receipts for reimbursement must be submitted within 60 days of the treatment or purchase date.**
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Provider assesses patient and creates a treatment plan: A treatment plan might involve conducting a thorough assessment of the individual’s mental and emotional health, identifying any underlying mental health issues or concerns, and developing specific goals for treatment. The goal of the treatment plan is to help the individual cope with the emotional and psychological effects of the car crash and work towards healing and recovery.
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Go for counselling sessions: In the first 12 weeks after a crash, all B.C. residents can access 12 counselling sessions that are fully covered by ICBC, no matter who is responsible (at fault) in the crash.
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You recover and return to usual activities.
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What If You Need Long-Term Counselling After 12 Weeks?
Sometimes your recovery won’t go as expected and you’ll require counselling beyond the 12 weeks after a crash.
Your counsellor can recommend additional treatment
If your clinical counsellor indicates that you need to extend your care, they’ll submit an additional treatment plan to your support and recovery specialist. It will generally include additional treatment recommendations or new ones and explain their expected benefits to your recovery.
A Comprehensive Medical Assessment (CMA) may be the next step
If your recovery is prolonged or if it’s not going as expected, ICBC may offer a Comprehensive Medical Assessments (CMA). CMAs are provided by independent, multi-disciplinary teams of healthcare professionals and they can help to assess your injuries and support your recovery.
What if your injuries are permanent and life-altering?
ICBC understands the importance of ensuring that your physical and psychological needs are met after an accident. They will help if you experience a life-altering injury causing permanent and severe impairment impacting daily life. Some of the benefits available include permanent impairment compensation, recreational benefit, and personal care assistance for 24/7 care. For more information, please speak to your recovery specialist.
What Is An ICBC Counselling Initial Report?
ICBC may request your medical records after an automobile accident. A clinical counsellor will discuss with you the purpose of the reports and request your consent to share the reports with ICBC. However, by law, counsellors must provide these reports, even if you do not sign an authorization form.
ICBC’s counselling initial report form can be found here (only required for patients whose crash occurred prior to May 1, 2021). ICBC’s Counselling Progress Report can be found here (only completed upon request).
Click here for more information.
Why Should You See a Clinical Counsellor After Your Crash?
It’s important to note that counselling is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and the specific benefits an individual experiences will depend on their unique needs and circumstances. However, for many individuals, counselling can be an invaluable resource in the aftermath of a car crash.
There are several benefits to receiving counselling after a car crash:
Coping with emotional and psychological effects
A car crash can be a traumatic experience, and it’s not uncommon for individuals to experience a range of emotions, including fear, anxiety, and depression. Counselling can help individuals cope with these emotions and work towards healing and recovery.
Improving mental health
Counselling can help individuals improve their mental health and well-being by addressing any underlying mental health issues that may have been triggered or exacerbated by the crash. This can include treatment for conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Reducing symptoms of trauma
Counselling can help individuals reduce the symptoms of trauma associated with a car crash, such as flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, and avoidance of activities or situations related to the crash.
Improving relationships
A car crash can also have an impact on personal relationships, and counselling can help individuals communicate more effectively with loved ones and improve their relationships.
Promoting healing and recovery
Overall, counselling can be an important part of the recovery process after a car crash, helping individuals heal and move forward with their lives.
Schedule Your 12 ICBC Counselling Sessions with Latitude Wellness in Vancouver Today
As mentioned, all B.C. residents are eligible for 12 counselling sessions that are fully-covered by ICBC any time within the first 12 weeks after a crash.
Latitude Wellness provides full-service online counselling and in-person counselling sessions in Vancouver, B.C. If you’ve been involved in an accident, we offer counselling sessions without any upfront cost because we direct bill ICBC for your counselling sessions.
Latitude Wellness practitioners support individuals, couples and families with a number of areas of concern through various treatment approaches to ensure that the treatment plan makes sense for you and your life.
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 counselling services, or if you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact us here or book an appointment below.
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