Is Psychotherapy Covered by Insurance in Ontario?

Believe me, I know how frustrating it can be to make sense of insurance coverage while facing personal challenges.

A frequent question I get asked is whether psychotherapy is covered by insurance in Ontario. The answer, unfortunately, is… that it depends.

OHIP Coverage

In Ontario, many people have access to publicly funded-healthcare through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). When it comes to psychotherapy, unfortunately, most therapy services are generally not covered by OHIP, unless provided by psychiatrist or provided at institutions such as public clinics, hospitals and communities centres.

If you are interested in seeking these services through OHIP, your first step would be to discuss with your family doctor to assess whether you would be a good candidate for ar referral.

Private Insurance

But here is some good news: most private insurance plans offer some coverage for psychotherapy services.

While each plan has a different amount of coverage (in terms of number of sessions, maximum fees, etc.), most plan nowadays offer significant support for its members.

For that reason, if you are fortunate enough to have private insurance, you should check directly with your with your provider to understand the specifics of your coverage.

Next steps

In summary, while some psychotherapy services are covered by OHIP in Ontario, many residents often turn to private insurance to cover the costs associated with therapy.

Take your time to understand your coverage. Get in touch with you provider to understand your options.

To know more about our approach to psychotherapy, click here.