Are You Eligible for Government-funded physiotherapy?
Comments are off for this post.
Learn how you can receive government-funded physiotherapy services to help you recover from illness, surgery or injury. If you are a senior, you may benefit from exercise classes designed to keep you healthy, active and independent.
Eligibility for government-funded physiotherapy
Step 1: find out if the government will pay for your treatment
The information below summarizes who qualifies for government-funded physiotherapy and who to contact to get started. If you have a valid OHIP card, you are eligible if you:
• are age 19 or younger: contact your doctor or nurse practitioner
• have been discharged as an inpatient of a hospital after an overnight stay and require physiotherapy for the condition, illness or injury for which you were hospitalized: contact your doctor or nurse practitioner
• receive income from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program: contact your doctor or nurse practitioner
• are age 65 or older: contact your doctor or nurse practitioner
• are age 65 or older and require in-home physiotherapy (whether in your own home or a retirement home): contact a Community Care Access Centre (CCAC)
** by phone: (your area code)-310-CCAC (2222)
** in person: enter your postal code to find your local CCAC office
• are age 65 or older and living in a long-term care home: contact the doctor or nurse practitioner on staff. As part of your plan of care in your long-term care home, the doctor or nurse will refer you to a registered physiotherapist. The physiotherapist will decide if you need physiotherapy.
If you are not listed above, the government will not cover your physiotherapy.
Step 2: get a referral
If you need physiotherapy for medical reasons, your contact will give you a referral. You need this referral to sign up for services.
Step 3: find a clinic offering government-funded physiotherapy services
Your contact in Step 1 will help you find a local clinic or arrange for services in your home or long-term care facility.
You can also find a government-funded physiotherapy clinic using the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s clinic directory. Publicly-funded Physiotherapy clinic directory
Learn more about exercise and falls prevention classes in your community through the Health Care Options website or by calling INFOline at 1-888-910-1999.
Once you’ve found a clinic, give the physiotherapist your referral. It explains that you qualify for government-funded physiotherapy services. Your referral may only be used at one clinic.
If you are not eligible to have your physiotherapy paid for, you can visit a private clinic for treatment.