Your allowance: 12 sessions
ICBC pre-approves 12 registered massage therapy sessions for the period after a collision. The initial assessment appointment uses one of the twelve.
Registered massage therapy after a motor vehicle collision
ICBC Registered Massage Therapy in Burnaby and Vancouver
Registered massage therapy under an ICBC claim helps with the soft-tissue side of a collision: muscle tension, guarding, and stiffness. ICBC's pre-approved allowance for massage therapy is 12 sessions in the 12 weeks after your crash. No referral is needed to begin, and we bill ICBC directly on eligible claims.
What brings people to massage therapy after a crash
You can book without a diagnosis. After a collision, these are the complaints our registered massage therapists see most.
- Neck and shoulder tension after whiplash
- Muscle guarding and tightness that limits movement
- Upper-back and mid-back stiffness
- Headaches that come with neck tension after the collision
- Reduced range of motion when turning the head
- Jaw and TMJ tension after impact
- Broken sleep during recovery
What ICBC covers for massage therapy
Massage therapy has a separate pre-approved allowance from the other disciplines, and the rules below are the ones that apply to it.
Twelve weeks, starting at the crash
The allowance is tied to the collision date: it covers the twelve weeks that follow, whatever date the claim itself is opened.
No referral needed to book
You can book massage therapy without seeing a doctor first and without waiting on an ICBC approval. Your claim number and Personal Health Number are what the clinic asks for at booking.
Nothing to pay at an eligible visit
Phoenix Rehab sends the invoice directly to ICBC on eligible claims instead of charging you.
Reports filed by your therapist
If ICBC requires treatment reporting during your care, your registered massage therapist prepares and submits it from the clinic.
Beyond the twelfth session
Massage therapy past the allowance is possible only with ICBC's approval. Your therapist can ask for it before you run out.
Phoenix Rehab plays no role in whether ICBC accepts a claim and cannot help with claim status. ICBC is the contact for decisions, status, benefits, and account access.
Our registered massage therapists
Every registered massage therapist at Phoenix Rehab can treat patients under an ICBC claim.
Cohen Parasiuk
Registered Massage Therapist
Injury Recovery & Pain Management, Myofascial & Trigger Point Techniques, Patient-Centered Massage Therapy, Mobility & Soft Tissue Rehabilitation, Joint Mobilizations
Languages · English
Anthony Artuso
Registered Massage Therapist
Sports Injuries, Postural Realignment, Musculoskeletal Imbalances, TMJ Disorders, Craniosacral Dysfunctions
Languages · English
Marc Fortin
Registered Massage Therapist
Fascia Work & Myofascial Release, Swedish Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Joint Mobilization, Lymphatic Drainage
Languages · English, French
What a session may include
Your therapist works from your assessment and your comfort level, choosing among these approaches as the tissue response changes over your sessions.
Myofascial releaseTrigger point therapySwedish massageJoint mobilizationLymphatic drainageCraniosacral techniques
ICBC massage therapy questions
How many massage therapy sessions are pre-approved?
Twelve. They must fall within the twelve weeks after the collision, and the first appointment, which includes the assessment, is counted among them.
Do I have to see a doctor before booking massage therapy?
No. A referral is never required for massage therapy under ICBC; approval from ICBC only comes into play if you need sessions beyond the pre-approved allowance. Just bring your claim number and Personal Health Number.
Is there anything to pay at the visit?
Phoenix Rehab does not charge a user fee on eligible ICBC claims, so there is no payment at the visit.
Who files the ICBC treatment paperwork?
Your registered massage therapist submits the treatment reporting ICBC requires.
Can massage therapy be combined with other ICBC-covered care?
Yes. Every treatment type has its own pre-approved allowance, so massage therapy can sit alongside physiotherapy or other care in the same claim, limited to one session per practitioner type each day.
ICBC massage therapy and care resources
The main ICBC page holds the claim walkthrough and first-visit preparation. What follows here is only about massage therapy.