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Every December, our front desk at Rishaan Physio & Wellness Clinic fields the same call: “I just realized I have $400 left in my massage benefits — can I get in before the 31st?” Sometimes we can. Often, the last two weeks of the year are fully booked and people lose coverage they paid for all year.
If you have extended health benefits through your employer, your spouse, a union, or an individual plan, you are paying for paramedical coverage — physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and custom orthotics — whether you use it or not. Most of that coverage expires at the end of the calendar year and does not roll over. With three months left in the year, now is the time to check your balance and put it to use on the sore back, stiff neck, or nagging knee you have been ignoring.
How Paramedical Benefits Work in Ontario
Extended health plans typically cover “paramedical services” — treatments from regulated health professionals outside of what OHIP pays for. Each service usually has its own annual maximum. A typical plan might look like:
- Physiotherapy — $500 to $1,000+ per year
- Massage therapy (RMT) — $300 to $1,000 per year
- Chiropractic care — $300 to $750 per year
- Acupuncture — $300 to $500 per year, sometimes grouped with physiotherapy or naturopathic care
- Custom orthotics — $300 to $500 per pair, every one to two years
Some plans use a combined maximum across all paramedical services instead; others cover a percentage per visit (80% or 100%) up to a per-visit cap. Your benefits booklet or your insurer’s online portal will show your exact limits and how much you have used.
Why “Use It or Lose It” Matters
Most plans run on the calendar year. Whatever you have not claimed by December 31 disappears, and your limits reset on January 1. There is no carry-over, no refund, and no credit. If your plan covers $500 of massage and you have used none of it, that $500 is gone in three months.
Some plans run on a different benefit year (for example, July to June), so check your policy. But for the majority of people in Mississauga, the deadline is December 31.
Five Ways to Use Your Remaining Benefits Wisely
1. Finally deal with the problem you’ve been putting off
The stiff lower back, the shoulder that clicks, the heel pain every morning — these do not fix themselves. A course of physiotherapy now means you enter the new year without them.
2. Book a series of massage sessions
Registered massage therapy is the most under-used benefit we see. Desk workers, athletes, and parents all benefit from regular sessions for tension, recovery, and stress. If you have $300 to $600 left, that is four to eight sessions.
3. Get your custom orthotics
If orthotics have been recommended, this is the ideal time — you use this year’s allowance now and are eligible again next year if your plan renews annually. See our guide on orthotics insurance coverage in Ontario.
4. Try a treatment you haven’t used
Many patients do not realize their plan includes acupuncture or chiropractic care. Both are effective for chronic pain, headaches, and stiffness, and using them means tapping a separate pool of coverage rather than draining your physiotherapy limit.
5. Take care of your family’s coverage too
Dependants — your spouse and children — usually have their own limits. A teenager with backpack-related back pain, a partner with a tight neck from remote work, or a parent with knee arthritis can all use their own allowance.
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How to Check Your Remaining Balance
- Insurer’s online portal or app — most major insurers (Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Green Shield, Blue Cross, Desjardins, and others) show your claims history and remaining balances
- Your benefits booklet — lists annual maximums and any referral or frequency rules
- HR or benefits administrator — for employer plans
- Ask us — when you visit, our front desk can often confirm your coverage during direct billing
Direct Billing: No Upfront Payment
At Rishaan Physio, we bill most extended health plans directly for physiotherapy, massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture. That means you pay only the portion your plan does not cover — often nothing at all. Bring your benefits card to your first appointment and we handle the rest. For orthotics, we bill directly where your plan allows and prepare a complete claim package where it does not.
Coordinating Benefits with Your Spouse
If both you and your spouse have plans, you can submit a claim to your own plan first and any remaining balance to your spouse’s plan. This “coordination of benefits” often covers 100% of a treatment and doubles the number of sessions you can access. Tell us if you have two plans and we will bill accordingly.
Referral Requirements
You do not need a doctor’s referral to see a physiotherapist, massage therapist, chiropractor, or acupuncturist in Ontario. However, some insurance plans require a physician’s referral to reimburse the treatment — particularly for massage therapy and orthotics. Check your booklet; if a referral is needed, a quick visit to your family doctor or a walk-in clinic covers it.
Book Early — December Fills Up Fast
Every clinic in Mississauga sees a rush in the last three weeks of December from people trying to use expiring benefits. Booking in October or November gives you your choice of times, the ability to complete a full course of treatment rather than squeezing in one visit, and a real result rather than a rushed one. We are open seven days a week, including evenings and weekends, which makes fitting sessions around work and family easier.
Why Choose Rishaan Physio in Mississauga
- All five paramedical services under one roof — physiotherapy, massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, and orthotics
- Direct billing to most extended health plans, plus MVA and WSIB
- Open 7 days a week with same-day, evening, and weekend appointments
- Coordination of benefits handled for families with two plans
- Free pickup and drop-off service
- Unit 7, 5105 Hurontario Street, Mississauga — Hurontario & Eglinton, minutes from Square One and Heartland
Frequently Asked Questions
Do unused health benefits roll over to next year?
For most plans, no. Annual maximums reset on the plan’s renewal date — usually January 1 — and unused amounts are lost. Some plans allow a health spending account (HSA) balance to carry over for one year; check your policy.
Can I use physiotherapy and massage benefits in the same week?
Yes. Each service usually has its own maximum, and there is no rule against combining treatments. Many of our patients see a physiotherapist and a massage therapist in the same week for faster results.
What if my treatment costs more than my per-visit limit?
You pay the difference. For example, if your plan covers 80% of a visit, you pay the remaining 20% at the clinic. We tell you the exact amount before treatment.
Can I use my benefits for a family member?
Only if they are a covered dependant on your plan (typically a spouse and children). Each dependant has their own limits, so their treatment does not reduce yours.
Three Months Left — Make Your Benefits Count
Physio • Massage • Chiro • Acupuncture • Orthotics • Direct billing • Open 7 days
Call (905)-800-1661Rishaan Physio & Wellness Clinic — Unit 7, 5105 Hurontario St, Mississauga, ON L4Z 0C9