Child Funding Options
Private Speech therapy is delivered on a fee for service basis. Most of our services are $140/hour.
Speech therapy in BC, outside of government agencies, is not covered by MSP.
1) Please check your extended health insurance coverage:
Many extended health benefit programs provide annual reimbursement amounts for SLP services. Receipts will be provided to clients and you are encouraged to seek reimbursement through your extended health benefit provider. You may need a physician’s referral to claim this expense.
2) We are approved service providers for many third-party pay agencies such as:
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- At-Home Program Medical Benefits: School-aged Extended Therapy Program
- Ministry of Children and Family Development
- Regent Christian Online Academy
- Jordan’s Principle Funding
- Self-Design Learning Community
- Heritage Christian Online School
- Kwu’mut Lelum Family Services
- Wellbeing program – Métis Nation British Columbia (mnbc.ca) for Metis families
- ICBC
- Veteran’s Affairs Canada
- Worksafe BC
- RCMP
- Community Brain Injury Program for Children and Youth
- BC Stroke Recovery Association
- Communication Assistance for Youths and Adults (CAYA)
You may also be eligible for a Child Disability Benefit or Disability Tax Credit
Grants may also be available from agencies such as:
Variety- The Children’s Charity (Please note: Variety will not cover sessions with SLPAs or CHAs); CKNW Kid’s Fund; Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children; Janna Epp Bursary.
Adult Funding Options
ICBC (Motor Vehicle Accidents) – Enhanced Care
https://enhancedcare.icbc.com/care-and-coverages#benefits
If you need therapy due to a motor vehicle accident, you may have coverage through ICBC or other private insurance. Typically, ICBC will cover a portion of the therapy fees. These therapy fees may need to be approved after the first assessment by your case manager or insurance adjuster.
Fraser Health Acquired Brain Injury and Concussion Services
The acquired brain injury program through Fraser Health is a short-term and specific program that can help with a variety of services, including therapy. This program has specific criteria, but some people who have sustained a brain injury may not have been identified for this program through the public health system when they may in fact be eligible. There is a referral form to access this support. You can be referred by your physician, a health care provider, someone you know, or even by yourself.
Worksafe BC
If you have been injured at work, you may be eligible for therapy through Worksafe BC. Typically you would already have a case number and an adjuster that we can speak with directly before we start treatment. In most cases Worksafe covers the complete cost of therapy, but they will typically only cover one type of treatment at a time unless otherwise approved by your adjuster.
Please let us know if you are funded through Worksafe BC and have your claim number ready when you are booking your initial assessment.
Department of Veterans Affairs
If you are a current or former member of the Canadian military, you may be eligible for partial coverage of both your assessment and treatment sessions. In most cases, therapy services must be prescribed by a physician beforehand in order to be approved.
For more information, please visit their website:
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/health/treatment-benefits/poc#poc12
Charities
There are a few charities that provide funding for specific and limited amounts of therapy. These charities often require a detailed application form as well as disclosure of family financial information, but can be a great way to secure funding for a certain block of therapy. Funding often takes a few months to approve and usually has an end date as to when the funding will expire. Some local groups, such a Rotary or other service organizations, may also fundraise for a block of therapy.
The Jo Dickey Foundation:
http://www.jodickeyfoundation.ca/index.shtml
Extended Medical Benefits (Private Health Insurance)
You may have extended medical coverage through your place of employment. Often extended medical coverage has a yearly amount, with capped maximums and pay a portion of the appointment (often 80%). Extended Medical coverage plans often include physiotherapy, and may include speech language pathology.
Canada Revenue Agency Medical Expenses
Families with medical expenses, including but not limited to therapy services, may be eligible for claiming on your Canadian tax return. This will require full out of pocket expenses initially but may provide a refund once your tax return is filed.
For more information, please contact an accountant or read more at the CRA website:
Communication Assistance for Youth and Adults (CAYA)
CAYA is a program funded by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. They can provide augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) systems for individuals who are 19 years and older with functional communication difficulties. This includes individuals who have never had the capacity for functional speech (e.g. problems from birth or genetic conditions) or individuals who have lost that capacity somehow. They are also able to provide additional training and resources to support communicative function.
Please see their site for more information: https://cayabc.net/
Need help navigating the funding world? We are here to help! Contact us by phone, using the Submit a Referral link, or email us at speakeasyadmin@shaw.ca.