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Is virtual physiotherapy covered by insurance in Alberta?

Many Alberta extended health plans include physiotherapy — but whether yours covers virtual physiotherapy is a question only your plan can answer.

Written and reviewed by Lisa Jasper, PT, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta · Last reviewed September 2026

Is virtual physiotherapy covered by insurance in Alberta?

It depends on your plan. Physiotherapy is a benefit on many Alberta extended health plans, but whether your plan covers virtual physiotherapy, up to what amount, and with what conditions varies — check your plan before you book.

Insurers set their rules plan by plan. Two people with the same insurer can hold different coverage, different annual maximums, and different requirements, so no article — ours included — can tell you what your plan covers. What we can do is show you exactly how to find out.

How do I check my coverage?

Call the number on your benefits card before your first appointment. Four questions will tell you most of what you need:

  • Is physiotherapy a covered benefit on my plan?
  • Does my plan cover physiotherapy delivered virtually?
  • What is my annual maximum for physiotherapy?
  • Do I need a physician's note for reimbursement?

That last question matters more than people expect: you never need a doctor's referral to see a physiotherapist in Alberta, but some plans require a physician's note before they will reimburse you. We explain the difference in Do I need a referral for physiotherapy in Alberta?

Write the answers down, along with the date and the name of the person you spoke with.

Does Alberta Blue Cross cover physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is a benefit on many Alberta Blue Cross extended health plans, and Alberta Blue Cross supports direct billing by physiotherapy providers. Whether a specific plan covers virtual physiotherapy, and to what annual maximum, depends on the plan — check your plan before you book.

The same is true of every other insurer: the four questions above apply no matter whose name is on your benefits card.

What does healthUpdated cost, and how do I pay?

Program details and fees are covered on the free program-information call, where we can also point you to what your extended health plan may reimburse. Fees are receiptable as physiotherapy services with a licensed physiotherapist.

If you do not have extended benefits, you still have options. Albertans can choose to pay out of pocket for the provider of their choice, and AHS-funded physiotherapy exists for some groups — see Does Alberta Health Care cover physiotherapy?

If your situation involves a WCB claim or a motor vehicle accident, ask about it on the program-information call.

Sources: Alberta Blue Cross, physiotherapy provider information · Alberta Health Services, “Physiotherapy Services” · healthUpdated FAQ

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