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ICBC Claims & Treatment: What You Need to Know After a Car Accident

If you’ve been in a car accident, figuring out what to do next can feel overwhelming.

From starting your ICBC claim to understanding what’s covered—and how to actually begin treatment—there are a lot of moving pieces.

At Affinity Family Wellness, we guide patients through this process every day. Our goal is to make it simple, clear, and supportive—so you can focus on your recovery.

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If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident in British Columbia, ICBC provides pre-approved treatment coverage—but understanding how to access and use it properly can make a significant difference in your recovery.

How the ICBC Process Works

Step 1: Start Your Claim

As soon as possible after your accident:

  • Call ICBC or submit your claim online
  • You’ll receive a claim number
  • You may be assigned an adjuster

 Your claim number allows clinics like ours to direct bill ICBC on your behalf

Step 2: Book Your First Appointment

Once you have your claim number, you can book treatment right away.

  • You do not need a doctor’s referral to get started
  • We will confirm your claim and set up billing
  • Your practitioner will assess your injuries and guide your care plan

What ICBC Covers

Under ICBC’s Enhanced Care model, most patients are pre-approved for treatment within the first 12 weeks after an accident.

Commonly Covered Services:

  • Physiotherapy
  • Chiropractic care
  • Registered Massage Therapy
  • Kinesiology
  • Counselling

Each service comes with a set number of visits, designed to support your recovery.

Coverage is structured—not unlimited—and varies slightly by claim.

Understanding Visit Limits, Timeframes & Extensions

Visit Limits

You are approved for a set number of sessions within each service.
These visits are meant to support your recovery—but they are not unlimited.

At Affinity, we:

  • Track your visits for you
  • Keep you informed as you approach your limits
  • Help plan your care so you get the most benefit

Timeframes (The 12-Week Window)

Your coverage is tied to a 12-week window from the date of your accident, not just the number of visits.

This means:

  • Starting care early is important
  • Waiting too long can reduce what you’re able to use
  • Visits don’t “roll over” beyond this period

Early, consistent care leads to better recovery outcomes.

Extensions (If You Need More Care)

If you need additional treatment beyond your initial visits:

  • Your practitioner can submit an extension request to ICBC
  • This must include clinical reasoning and progress updates
  • ICBC reviews and decides whether further care is approved

Extensions are not automatic—but when clearly needed, we advocate for you.

Counselling Support (Often Overlooked, Highly Valuable)

Recovery after an accident isn’t just physical.

Many patients experience:

  • Stress or anxiety
  • Difficulty coping with pain
  • Changes in routine or independence
  • Concussion-related symptoms affecting mood, focus, or sleep

ICBC includes counselling support as part of your care.

This can be especially helpful for:

  • Patients recovering from concussions
  • Those struggling during the recovery process
  • Anyone feeling overwhelmed or stuck

Counselling is not a last resort—it’s a valuable part of a complete recovery plan.

Direct Billing (What to Expect)

At Affinity:

  • We bill ICBC directly for approved treatments
  • Most patients do not pay out of pocket during their initial coverage

However, you may be responsible for:

  • Missed appointments
  • Late cancellations
  • Services outside your approved coverage

Missed Appointments & Cancellation Policy

ICBC does not cover missed or late-cancelled appointments.

If you:

  • Do not attend your appointment
  • Cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice

You will be billed directly according to clinic policy.

Clear communication helps protect both your coverage and your recovery

How Affinity Supports You

At Affinity Family Wellness, we aim to make this process easier:

  • We verify your claim and set up billing
  • We track your visits and timelines
  • We communicate clearly as things change
  • We collaborate across disciplines to support your recovery

Our goal is simple:
Help you feel supported, informed, and confident every step of the way

Your Recovery: What It May Look Like

Recovery is not one-size-fits-all. Your care will evolve as your body heals.

Early Stage (Acute)

Focus:

  • Pain reduction
  • Gentle movement
  • Nervous system support

Mid Stage (Recovery)

Focus:

  • Mobility
  • Reducing stiffness
  • Improving function

Later Stage (Rebuild & Return to Life)

Focus:

  • Strength
  • Confidence
  • Return to work, sport, and daily life

This is where kinesiology becomes especially important, helping you move from “feeling better” to functioning fully again.

What to Do Next

If you’ve recently been in an accident:

  1. Start your ICBC claim
  2. Get your claim number
  3. Book your first appointment

From there, we’ll guide you through the rest.

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ICBC Claims & Treatment — FAQs

ICBC typically provides a set number of pre-approved treatments within the first 12 weeks after an accident. These may include physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, kinesiology, and counselling. The number of visits varies by service and claim.

ICBC treatment coverage is generally provided within a 12-week window from the date of your accident. It’s important to start care early, as unused visits may expire after this timeframe.

No, most patients do not need a doctor’s referral to begin treatment. Once you have an ICBC claim number, you can book directly with a clinic.

If additional care is needed, your practitioner can submit an extension request to ICBC. Approval is based on clinical need, progress, and documentation, and is not guaranteed

Yes, ICBC often includes counselling as part of recovery care. This can be especially helpful for patients dealing with stress, anxiety, concussion symptoms, or difficulty adjusting after an injury

ICBC does not cover missed or late-cancelled appointments. If you do not attend or provide less than 24 hours’ notice, you will be billed directly according to clinic policy

It’s best to start treatment as soon as possible after your accident. Early care can improve recovery outcomes and help you make full use of your pre-approved ICBC coverage.”

General Inquiry

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Affinity Wellness is conveniently located in central Kelowna at 1890 Ambrosi Rd Suite 2, off of either HWY 97 or Springfield Rd. There is FREE PARKING at the front and back of the building.

Contact Us

778-478-0548
info@affinitywellness.ca

Location

Affinity Wellness
1890 Ambrosi Rd Suite 2,
Kelowna, BC V1Y 4R9, Canada

Hours

Monday-Thursday 7:00am – 7:00pm
Friday- 7:00am – 2:30pm
Saturday- 8:00am – 2:00pm
Sunday- Closed

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