“Are your services covered?”

I get this question asked many times. If you are in Manitoba and would like to claim the expenses for my Social Work services, please take note of the following options:

There are two ways to claim services offered by a registered social worker:

1. Manitoba Blue Cross Health Spending Account

If you have a Health Spending Account through Manitoba Blue Cross, it states that

“In general, expenses are considered eligible if they qualify as a medical expense tax credit under the Income Tax Act of Canada and have not been 100 per cent reimbursed by another benefit plan.”

2. Medical Expenses on Income Tax Through Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA)

You may be able to claim the therapy on the CRA Income Tax Form, Line 330 – Medical Expenses for Self, Spouse or Common-Law Partner, and your Dependent Children.  Social workers are on their list of approved qualified medical practitioners for almost all provinces.

Therapy is listed as an eligible medical expense by the CRA. The following is from their website:

Therapy – The cost of therapy received by a person who is eligible for the disability tax credit, provided by someone who is not the spouse or common-law partner of the person who is claiming the expense and who is 18 years of age or older when the amounts are paid. The therapy has to be prescribed and supervised for a mental impairment by a medical doctor or a psychologist.

3. Other Group Health Insurance Plans

• Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan has included social work coverage since 2014.
• Great West Life may provide some coverage for the services of a social worker. See Comprehensive Healthcare Plans.
• Sun Life Financial Health Insurance and coverage may also provide some assistance.

Contact Numbers:

Canada Revenue Agency (for Manitoba): 1-800-267-6999.

Manitoba Blue Cross:  (204) 775-0151

Clarify your eligibility for coverage prior to our first session. If you need any help finding out if you have coverage, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Angela G. Gentile, MSW RSW

References:

Manitoba Blue Cross: https://www.mb.bluecross.ca/faq

List of Eligible Medical Expenses, Canada Revenue Agency: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns300-350/330/llwxpns-eng.htm

Social Work Services and Third Party Payments – Canadian Association of Social Workers