How to get physiotherapy covered by insurance
Physiotherapy insurance can be a confusing process, for many patients it can be tough to understand; whether they are covered by their insurance, how they can check for this coverage, how to make a claim and what they need to do to get started with physiotherapy treatment.
The good news is many companies provide coverage that allows you to access cost-effective physiotherapy. Today, we are going to breakdown the various insurances that can help you get back to your best.
Look this way for more details on which insurances Kaizen works closely with.
Types of insurance that cover physiotherapy
We are often asked questions such as, “how can I claim my physiotherapy through medical insurance?”, or, “does my employee health insurance cover physiotherapy?”.
The answer to this question will vary on a case by case basis. Here are some general tips and advice about different types of insurance cover available.
Private health and medical insurance
Providers: AXA PPP, Western Provident Association (WPA), Healix
This is probably the most common type of insurance for accessing private healthcare. This type of insurance is specifically taken out to help manage your health and wellbeing. Typically your coverage will extend to a range of healthcare provision including Dentistry, mental health support and access to medical practitioners.
Some employers will offer work based policies as part of their employee benefits. The exact extent of the coverage and policy will depend on your workplace as well as what contributions you add on top of this. In some cases, your coverage can extend to your immediate family members.
Here’s how health insurance works for physiotherapy treatment.
Accident insurance
Providers: Aviva, Legal and General, The Exeter
There are various types of insurance aiming to protect people after an accident. Policies vary significantly regarding what can be accessed following an injury.
Typically, car insurance and personal injury cover can allow for access to physiotherapy after you are injured in an accident. It is important to note that this type of insurance is often more focused on accident-related injuries, rather than long-term health management. If you suffer an injury that leads to chronic pain, stiffness, or mobility issues; it is possible that your insurance might not fund long-term physiotherapy treatment.
Generally, public liability insurance will not directly cover access to physiotherapy. However, if you have sustained an injury, a compensation fee is usually arranged which can be used towards paying for your physiotherapy.
Travel insurance
Providers: BUPA Int, Allianz, Direct Line, Tesco
Travel insurance is typically purchased to cover unexpected events while travelling, such as medical emergencies, lost luggage, or cancellations. Much like accident insurance, policies are geared towards short-term cover immediately after injury, as opposed to long-term care. It’s worth confirming whether physiotherapy is included and under what circumstances.
It can also be possible to get additional cover for winter sports, and other extreme sports, with your travel insurance policy. You should check the details of the policy carefully. Some winter sports policies include specific cover for physio if you get home with an injury.
Here’s where you can find out more about winter sports and physiotherapy coverage.
Sports insurance
This type of coverage allows participants to access sports physiotherapy with their insurance. This allows you to quickly access to treatment for sport-related injuries; ranging from minor strains and sprains, to more significant injuries and operations. This quick access to care can help you to return to their sport as quickly as possible.
This type of insurance is especially beneficial for people who participate in a sport where injuries can be common, such as rugby, competitive cycling, combat sports and golf.
This kind of policy is a good option for someone who may not want to pay for full health insurance, but would benefit from quick access to treatment for sports-related injuries.
Medicash and Health Cash Plans
Health Cash Plans are a more cost effective means for you to access physiotherapy. These plans are becoming increasingly available and will typically reimburse you for a range of routine healthcare expenses. Compared to private medical health insurance, which will cover you for unexpected illnesses and hospital stays; Health Cash Plans will only provide access to reimbursement of your routine and non-urgent care, such as visiting your optician. We’ve summarised the differences for you below.
Private medical health insurance
Focus: comprehensive cover of all health issues including unexpected illness and urgent care
Cost: Varies significantly on personal circumstances but averages out at roughly £80 a month
Access: Hospital treatment, surgery, specialist appointments
Benefits: Quicker access to healthcare, wider choice of providers, health providers usually bill insurance companies directly.
Health Cash Plan (Medicash)
Focus: Routine, predictable healthcare expenses
Cost: Depends on the level of the plan on offer but starting price is around £7.20 per month
Access: Physiotherapy, Dental, Opticians (check your policy to confirm the extent)
Benefits: Cashback (you will have to pay for your appointment in full), access to virtual GP, digital tools for health support
Please note the cashback is for routine services and not for emergency care. If in doubt, check the terms and conditions of your cash plan first.
Medicash vs Private Medical Insurance
| Feature | Private Medical Health Insurance | Health Cash Plan (Medicash) |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Comprehensive cover of all health issues including unexpected illness and urgent care | Routine, predictable healthcare expenses |
| Cost | Varies significantly on personal circumstances but averages around £80 per month | Depends on the level of the plan on offer but starts from around £7.20 per month |
| Access | Hospital treatment, surgery, specialist appointments | Physiotherapy, Dental, Opticians (check your policy to confirm the extent) |
| Benefits | Quicker access to healthcare, wider choice of providers, health providers usually bill insurance companies directly | Cashback (you will have to pay for your appointment in full), access to virtual GP, digital tools for health support |
| Important Notes | Comprehensive coverage for more serious health issues | Cashback is for routine services and not for emergency care. Check the terms and conditions of your cash plan first if in doubt. |
How to arrange physiotherapy with insurance
Your specific insurer will no doubt send you information regarding the exact steps. Typically, the process will go along these lines:
Contact your insurer over the phone, app or by email to make a claim.
You should receive a claim number (sometimes referred to as a case number).
The number of sessions covered, and how payment will be made, should be confirmed at this stage by your provider.
You may need to inform them which physiotherapist you have chosen to see (some insurers have registered us as Kaizen Physiotherapy, others under our individual names).
Send through your claim number, membership number and personal details so that we can complete your booking!
Physiotherapy Insurance FAQs
What types of physiotherapy treatment are covered by insurance?
You’ll have access to all physiotherapy treatments available. Some insurance providers only cover the cost of 30 minute session.
We can help you understand the level of coverage your policy ofers and hat type of treatment you can get.
Is there much of a difference between providers, for example Vitality and BUPA?
Most policies will offer some level of physiotherapy as part of their offer. The difference is usually in the small print, and tends to relate to the number of sessions you can access a year.
We would always recommend comparing different policies and how much they charge. Checking the specifics will inform you of the types of treatment you have access to, as well as the number of sessions.
At Kaizen Physiotherapy & Performance, you have access to some of the following treatment techniques:
Acupuncture
Exercise prescription, including strength and conditioning
Manual therapy
Reformer Pilates
Ski assessment
Running assessment
Return to sport testing
What is the cost of physiotherapy?
Check out our physiotherapy treatment price list here.
We are approved with the following insurers and will bill them directly instead of charging you.
There is one exception. If you have an excess to pay, we will typically collect payment for your insurance company. This will be communicated with you by the insurer and by us before payment is collected.
Can you get emergency physiotherapy on insurance?
Emergency physiotherapy doesn’t really exist, although some people do need to access treatment within a day or two for problems such as a stiff neck or low back. If this situation arises, you should contact your insurer as soon as possible to arrange for a session. At that point, it is best to call us to see if we have any immediately available appointments.
Do I need a referral to get physiotherapy covered by insurance?
You can usually self-refer for physiotherapy through your insurer. Depending on the terms of your policy, or the type of injury, you may need a screening call or a referral from your GP or a consultant. Once you’re covered, you can access private physiotherapy sessions with a registered physiotherapist.
Does my car insurance cover physiotherapy?
You will need to check with your insurer to confirm, but some policies will include access to physiotherapy for treatment of any pain associated with a car accident.
What happens if my insurance doesn’t cover physiotherapy?
We can still help you at Kaizen Physiotherapy & Performance! We regularly see people with no insurance cover, helping to diagnose and provide treatment plans to help recovery after their injury. If you are struggling with anything, book a consultation with us here, so we can help get you back to your best.