By: Kirsten Kidd
Have you ever been told by a friend or colleague to see an Athletic Therapist? Or curious about what they do and how they can help you? Here’s a little insight into what we do and how to get coverage.
I’ve been working as a Certified Athletic Therapist for 10 years now. My experience includes working in the clinical setting as well as on the field with sports such as rugby, hockey, football, gymnastics, soccer, boxing and many others. Athletic Therapy can reduce your time away from work, sport or active living.
An Athletic Therapist is effective in treating many injuries, concussions, post-surgeries, and musculoskeletal (muscles, bones, and joints) injuries of all types and for all individuals: athletes or active individuals whether on the field or in the clinic. With assessments, I use a biomechanical full body approach to find out what is wrong using a wide range of rehabilitative techniques which can include manual therapies, soft tissue mobilization, exercises, supportive strapping, and patient education. Teaching the patient how to prevent re-injury and learning about lifestyle factors that can help return someone to a healthy lifestyle and doing what they love faster.
Getting coverage for Athletic Therapy can be as easy as calling your insurance company to see if you have it, or if there are any options in your current plan to get coverage. You may require a referral from your medical doctor for your insurance company. Some Professional plans that cover Athletic Therapy include OPP, Ottawa- Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), Paramedics (depending on region/district), and Canadian Athlete Insurance Plan (CAIP) which now offers coverage to individual Athletes as well.
As an Athletic Therapist, I am also a Registered Kinesiologist. Thus if your insurance company covers treatment by a Registered Kinesiologist, as some extended health plans do, then that is another way to gain insurance coverage. You may also submit out-of-pocket Kinesiology expenses on your annual tax return. If you would like to submit treatments under a Registered Kinesiology please ask the front desk to include Kinesiology treatment on your invoice.
Here is a list of many Insurance Companies in Ontario that cover Athletic Therapy:
- Great West Life
- Standard Life
- Blue Cross
- Hockey Canada
- Desjardin
- Claim Secure
- Sun Life
- Reliable Life Insurance Co.
- Manulife
- Empire Life
- Greenshield
- Rugby Canada
For more information on Insurance coverage and options for coverage for Athletic Therapy and Kinesiology, please don’t hesitate to contact the clinic. I will be happy to answer all of your questions.