Extended Health Insurance for Physiotherapy

Health insurance in Ontario is something we've always taken for granted. We are conditioned to believe that OHIP  will take care of us in the event of an emergency.

Take a look at this scenario:

Your are walking along a gravel path when you suddenly lose traction, fall to the ground, twisting your ankle, and fracturing your tibia and fibula at the ankle. Because you cannot walk, you call an ambulance. This is normally $45.00 above what OHIP covers  to get to the hospital. Once you get there the orthopaedic surgeon may charge you a $40.00 administrative fee to see you.  Your xrays are covered by OHIP, your physician consults are covered by OHIP, you get a shot of Demerol  covered by OHIP.  You may be prescribed a splint or casted immediately without internal fixation.  Splints are not covered by OHIP. Crutches will also cost you out of pocket money, and prescribed analgesics are also not covered by OHIP.

You're fracture is set and you're sent home for six weeks to heal.  After that you're good to go, right?   Your work has just begun.  After being casted for six weeks you've got to regain your mobility, strength, balance, and function. You may require 6 weeks to 6 months of physiotherapy, costing hundreds, possible thousands, of dollars - not covered by OHIP.  

The length of time you spend in rehabilitation will depend on your rate of healing, age, pre-existing condition, whether you smoke, etc. and if you develop any complications this could add further to your expenses.

Ambulance                                               $ 45.00 Orthopaedic administrative charge       40.00 Crutches                                                      30.00 Air cast                                                      180.00  Physiotherapy                                        1000.00 + Pain Medications                                       ? Cane                                                             15.00                                                                              $1310.00 +