Physical health
Physiotherapy, chiropractic care, registered massage therapy, acupuncture or other eligible services.
Employee health benefits
Paramedical Benefits for Canadian Employees
Paramedical benefits can give employees practical support for recovery, mobility and ongoing wellness through eligible health practitioners.
Talk to a benefits advisorA paramedical benefits plan may reimburse eligible services from physiotherapists, registered massage therapists, chiropractors, psychologists and other recognized practitioners. The practitioner list and recognition requirements vary by contract and jurisdiction.
Useful coverage is not simply the longest list of practitioners. Employers should consider the services employees value, local provider access and whether limits make the benefit meaningful in practice.
Understanding the benefit
What paramedical coverage may include
An extended health plan may provide coverage for services such as:
Mental health
Eligible psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists or counsellors, depending on policy wording and credentials.
Flexible access
Some contracts recognize virtual appointments or direct access, while others require referrals or specific provider qualifications.
Plan design
What employers should compare
Review eligible practitioner credentials, per-visit limits, individual or combined annual maximums, referral requirements and virtual-care rules. A broad list can still provide limited value when every service shares a small combined maximum.
Three questions to ask
- 1 Which practitioners matter most to employees, and are they accessible where the team lives?
- 2 Are limits applied per practitioner, per visit or across all paramedical services?
- 3 How does the coverage work alongside mental-health support, virtual care or an employee assistance program?
Explore related employee benefits
Build the right plan
Turn benefit options into a workable plan.
A NextGen advisor can help you compare coverage, understand the trade-offs and build a sustainable benefits program for your organization.
Talk to an advisor