OHIP does not cover acupuncture or dry needling at a private clinic. With extended health benefits, coverage usually depends on who provides it: at our clinic, needling is done by our physiotherapists and chiropractors as part of your treatment, so check how your plan handles that.
Why the practitioner matters
Benefit plans pay by practitioner category. Many plans have a separate “acupuncture” benefit that applies only to visits with a Registered Acupuncturist, a title regulated by its own college in Ontario. Physiotherapists and chiropractors in Ontario may also perform acupuncture within their scope of practice, and when they do, the visit is generally a physiotherapy or chiropractic visit.
In practice, that means needling you receive during a physiotherapy or chiropractic appointment normally draws on your physiotherapy or chiropractic coverage, not on a separate acupuncture benefit. Plans differ, so confirm with your insurer.
Questions to ask your insurer
- If a physiotherapist or chiropractor provides acupuncture or dry needling, which benefit is it claimed under?
- Does my acupuncture benefit require a Registered Acupuncturist?
- What are my yearly maximums for physiotherapy and chiropractic?
- Do I need a doctor’s referral for the claim?
Is there an extra fee?
Fees for each service are on our Pricing page. If you are unsure how a visit that includes needling is billed, call us before you book.
Other plans
- Public Service Health Care Plan: see does the PSHCP cover physiotherapy, chiropractic and massage?
- RCMP, Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Canada: see do you direct bill insurance companies?
For how the two techniques differ, read is dry needling the same as acupuncture? More detail is on the contemporary medical acupuncture and dry needling page.
Not sure how your visit would be billed?