Usually, yes. Many Alberta Blue Cross plans include psychological services, typically as a percentage of each session up to an annual maximum. The details depend on the plan your employer chose, so the amount covered, the designations accepted and any referral requirements vary from plan to plan. Individual and family plans vary even more.
Ask three questions: what is my annual maximum, what percentage of each session is covered, and which designations are eligible? Some plans cover registered psychologists only. Others include provisional psychologists, social workers or counsellors. It is also worth asking whether the plan needs a doctor's referral for psychological services, because a few do.
Often, if your plan covers psychological services and the sessions are with an eligible clinician. Plans rarely have a separate couples category. Sessions are usually claimed under one partner's coverage, and if both partners have benefits, the second plan may pay part of the balance. Check with your plan before you start.
Both belong to the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, but they are separate organizations. Alberta Blue Cross is based in Alberta. Medavie Blue Cross operates mainly in eastern Canada and administers some federal programs, including health benefits for Veterans Affairs Canada clients. Your card shows which one you have, and the claims process differs between them.
If you are a veteran with Veterans Affairs Canada coverage, your mental health benefits run through Medavie Blue Cross, and approval may be needed before treatment starts. Our page on veterans and military counselling explains how we work with veterans and first responders.
If you pay and submit a claim yourself, online claims are often processed within days, and paper claims take longer. With direct billing there is no wait at all: the claim goes in during your visit, and you pay only the part your plan does not cover.
We direct bill both Alberta Blue Cross and Medavie Blue Cross, along with Canada Life, Sun Life, Manulife, Greenshield, Desjardins, NIHB and many others. Bring your Blue Cross ID card and plan details to your first appointment, or share them when you book, and we will check coverage for the clinician you are seeing. If a claim is ever declined, you pay for that session and we give you a detailed receipt to submit yourself.
See direct billing and insurance for the full list, or call 1-888-622-8350. We have clinics in Calgary, Red Deer and Cold Lake, as well as online sessions.
Health spending accounts can often be used for psychological services, and the medical expense tax credit applies to psychologists' fees you pay yourself. Some of our therapists offer sliding scale fees, and reduced-rate counselling is available at each of our clinics for people without coverage.
It is also worth checking whether you have coverage you have forgotten about, such as a spouse's plan, an employee assistance program with a few free sessions, or a health spending account balance that resets each year.
Related reading: Is couples counselling covered by insurance?, How much therapy costs in Calgary and Military and veteran mental health support.
