Supporting Wellness offers direct billing to many insurance providers for counselling, psychology and assessment services at our Calgary, Red Deer and Cold Lake clinics, and for online sessions. Instead of paying the full fee and waiting to be reimbursed, you pay only the portion your plan does not cover when you check out.
Every plan is different. Most set an annual maximum for psychological services and list which designations they cover, such as registered psychologists, provisional psychologists, social workers or counsellors. Tell us your insurer when you book, and we will check which of our clinicians your plan covers before your first session.
Without direct billing, seeing a psychologist usually means paying the full fee up front, keeping receipts and waiting for your insurer to reimburse you.
Because we bill your insurer directly, you are only responsible for the portion your plan does not cover at the time of your visit. For anyone attending weekly or every second week, that makes regular sessions much easier to keep up.
Direct billing takes a few minutes to set up. After that, it happens at every visit.
Step 1: Share your benefit information
When you book, or when you arrive for your first appointment at any of our clinics, give our front desk team your insurance card and plan details. We store them securely in your file.
Step 2: We submit the claim
After each session, we submit the claim to your insurance provider on your behalf through their secure online system.
Step 3: Pay only the difference
If your plan covers the full session, there is nothing more to pay. If it covers a percentage, you pay the remaining balance before you leave, and you get a receipt for your records and your taxes.
We work with many of Canada's major insurance providers so that clients in Calgary, Red Deer and Cold Lake can use their benefits easily. We currently offer direct billing to Alberta Blue Cross, Canada Life, Chambers of Commerce, Desjardins, Equitable Life, GreenShield, Group Source, iA Financial Group (Industrial Alliance), Johnston Group, Manulife, Maximum Benefit, Medavie Blue Cross, Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB), Simply Benefits, Sun Life and TELUS Health.
If direct billing is not available for your plan, you can pay for your session and submit the receipt to your insurer for reimbursement.
Questions about coverage? Read Does Blue Cross cover therapy?, Is couples counselling covered by insurance?, What an ADHD assessment costs, Does NIHB cover counselling? and Claiming therapy on your taxes.
This depends on your insurance policy. Supporting Wellness does not require a referral for you to book an appointment, but your insurance provider might require one to approve the claim. We recommend checking your benefits booklet before your visit.
That depends on your plan. Many plans cover registered psychologists, and many also cover registered provisional psychologists, social workers or Canadian Certified Counsellors. Give us your insurer and plan details when you book, and we will check which of our clinicians your plan covers.
In the rare event that an insurer's system is down or a claim is unexpectedly denied, you pay for the session at the time. We give you a detailed receipt right away so you can submit it to your insurer yourself.
Most plans have an annual maximum for psychological services. Once it is reached, sessions are paid out of pocket until your plan year resets. A spouse's plan or a health spending account may cover more, and fees you pay yourself to a psychologist can count toward the medical expense tax credit. See claiming therapy on your taxes.
Yes. We direct bill the Non-Insured Health Benefits program for eligible First Nations and Inuit clients receiving counselling. Let us know you have NIHB coverage when you book, and we will confirm eligibility before your first session. Learn how NIHB counselling coverage works.
No. Reduced-rate counselling sessions, offered by newly graduated therapists and counselling interns, are not eligible for insurance reimbursement. They are designed for people without benefits or with limited coverage.