Does Private Insurance Cover Online Counselling in BC?

In many cases, yes, private insurance can cover online counselling in British Columbia. That said, coverage depends entirely on your individual plan and provider.

Most extended health plans will reimburse counselling sessions as long as the therapist is a registered professional, such as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). Whether sessions are in person or online typically matters less than the therapist’s credentials.

If you’re looking into insurance coverage counselling or trying to understand how online therapy insurance works, the most important step is checking the details of your specific plan before booking.

What Types of Insurance Plans Typically Offer Coverage

Online counselling is not covered by MSP, but many extended health benefit plans include mental health coverage.

Some plans that commonly reimburse counselling services include providers like:

• Pacific Blue Cross

• Canada Life / Great-West Life

Coverage usually works on a reimbursement basis, meaning you pay for the session upfront and submit the receipt to your insurer for repayment. Direct billing is less common for counselling services, so it’s helpful to plan for this ahead of time.

What Determines Whether Your Sessions Are Covered

Insurance coverage isn’t one-size-fits-all. A few key factors determine whether your sessions will be reimbursed:

• Therapist credentials
  Coverage is typically limited to Registered Clinical Counsellors or other recognized professionals.

• Annual dollar limits
  Many plans cap how much they’ll reimburse per year for mental health services.

• Per-session maximums
  Some insurers only reimburse up to a set amount per appointment.

• Number of sessions per year
  Your plan may limit how many sessions are eligible annually.

• Referral requirements
  Some plans require a referral from a physician, while others do not.

Reviewing these details upfront can help prevent unexpected out-of-pocket costs.

Questions to Ask Your Insurance Provider

Insurance information can often feel vague or incomplete. Asking the right questions can make things much clearer. When contacting your provider, consider asking:

• Do my benefits cover sessions with a Registered Clinical Counsellor?

• What are my annual mental health benefit limits?

• How much is reimbursed per counselling session?

• How many sessions are covered each year?

• Is a referral from my doctor required?

If You’re Unsure About Your Coverage

Insurance language can be confusing, and coverage details aren’t always clearly explained. You don’t have to figure this out alone.

At Thrive Collective, all counselling services are provided by registered professionals, and our team is happy to help you understand what to look for when reviewing your benefits. If you’re unsure about your coverage or next steps, feel free to contact us for support.