Health Insurance for Counselling Services
In British Columbia and Canada, the majority of health insurance is purchased through a private group plan, sponsored by employers, unions, and associations. In some cases, there are individual plans purchased by consumers. Most plans are determined by the sponsor. Insurance coverage for counselling and psychotherapy services varies across provinces by the sponsor and plan type.
Please refer to the sections below to learn more about the supplementary extended health insurance plans that offer coverage for counselling therapy services provided by a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC) with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT).
According to the ACCT, the following insurance providers have agreed to provide reimbursement for claims filed under plans that include counselling services provided by an ACCT Registered Therapeutic Counsellor. Please check your policy to see if your coverage specifies what type of counselling services are covered. Please note, this list of insurers may need to be periodically checked and updated to verify accuracy:
Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP)
The Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP) provides coverage for a variety of medical services and supplies that complement your provincial health care insurance plan.
Under the list of "What's covered?", please select Psychological and counselling services to read about benefits, requirements, and exclusions.
According to ASEBP, "These services are intended to support positive mental health and well-being, and for the treatment of mental, nervous or emotional conditions, such as stress, anxiety or trauma."
ClaimSecure
ClaimSecure includes ACCT Registered Therapeutic Counsellors on their approved associations list. Please verify that your policy covers "counsellors." If your policy refers to "clinical counsellors," you will not be covered. Apparently, ClaimSecure distinguishes between therapeutic and clinical counsellors.
Please go to the ClaimSecure Members page and use your personal eProfile to see what's covered under your benefits plan and to submit claims.
Equitable Life of Canada
Equitable Life of Canada provides group health insurance benefits coverage which can be designed to include coverage for paramedical practitioners, including counsellors and/or psychotherapists.
Equitable states they have a flexible claims system to customize clients' health benefits coverage to meet specific needs for plan members.
They are accepting all ACCT registered counsellor designations for practitioners with registration in good standing. Making a claim? Please click on the Equitable Life Submitting a Claim page.
Green Shield Canada
Green Shield Canada will cover ACCT designated counsellors for plans that cover services provided by clinical counsellors.
To learn how much you're covered for under your health and benefits insurance plan, please check on the GSC Everywhere or GreenShield+ desktop and mobile apps, or in your benefits booklet. Click on the links to log in to your GSC Everywhere or Greenshield+ accounts.
You can click on the following links to explore more about GreenSheield's Individual Mental Health Services or Group Mental Health Services.
iA Financial Group
iA Financial Group (Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.) accepts the ACCT as an eligible association. Their paramedical care coverage will allow reimbursement for counselling services provided by Registered Therapeutic Counsellors.
To sign into your account online and submit a claim for counselling services under your paramedical care plan, please click on their How to Make a Claim page.
Manitoba Blue Cross
Manitoba Blue Cross will cover the services of counsellors holding an ACCT designation of Registered Counselling Therapist, if it is a counselling plan.
Please check your personal or group plan coverage to verify health practitioner treatment services covered for registered counsellors.
You can click the link to login to your Manitoba Blue Cross Member account.
Pacific Blue Cross
Pacific Blue Cross has agreed to reimburse clients for the services of counsellors holding an ACCT Registered Therapeutic Counsellor designation for plans that cover the services of clinical counsellors.
Please check your individual or group health benefits plan coverage to verify you can be reimbursed for counselling services. Click the PBC Member Profile page to login to your account.
Sun Life
Sun Life includes ACCT on its approved associations list. However, for a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor's services to be reimbursed, the terms of your policy must state that Counselling or Psychotherapy are covered.
For more information, you can click on the links about Personal Health Insurance or Group Benefits.
To manage or view your benefits coverage or submit claims, click the link to sign in to your Sun Life Account.
Victor Insurance
Victor Insurance includes ACCT as an approved provider for Registered Therapeutic Counsellors who offer counselling services.
For more information, click on the links for an overview of their Group Benefits, to sign or register for Group Enrollment, or to File Claims.