There are several types of funding available to make custom orthoses accessible. They are:
- Provincial Healthcare Funding – public healthcare, social assistance
- Private Health Insurance Plan Funding – Manulife, Great West Life, Sunlife, etc.
- Federal Government Program Funding – for veterans, indigenous, and new immigrants
- Provincial Worker Compensation Programs – WCB, WSIB, Worksafe BC, etc.
- Canada Revenue Agency – Disability Tax Credit
- Charities – The War Amps of Canada, March of Dimes, Easter Seals, etc.
Provincial Healthcare Funding
Funding availability for custom made orthoses is different in every province. The provincial governments set out varied fee schedules and residents of each province, with a valid heath card, are eligible for coverage, if available in their provinces.
Most provinces that provide public funding for orthoses require that:
- Orthotic treatment be prescribed by an authorized medical professional
- Orthosis is required for prolonged period to address malady
- Devices must be custom made (i.e. they do not fund off-the-shelf orthotics)
- Assessment, fabrication and fit must be done at an authorized facility by a Certified Orthotist CO(c)
The following Provinces have healthcare funding programs for orthotic treatments through the indicated departments:
- British Columbia – Pharmacare - gov.bc.ca/prostheticandorthoticpins
- Alberta – Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) - health.alberta.ca
- Saskatchewan – Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living (SAIL) - sasktechewan.ca/residents/health
- Manitoba – Manitoba Health Prosthetic and Orthotic Program - gov.mb.ca/health/mhsip/prosthetic.html
- Ontario – Assistive Devices Program (ADP) - ontario.ca/page/assistive-devices-program
- Quebec – RAMQ - Program for Devices that Compensated for a Physical Deficiency - ramq.gouv.qc.ca
- New Brunswick – funding only available to clients of New Brunswick Social Development Department https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.8155.Health_Services_Orthopedic_Program_.html
- Nova Scotia - No orthotic coverage
- Prince Edward Island - AccessAbility Supports (AAS) – for eligible dependents under 18 that qualify for funding support after a financial assessment - https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/family-and-human-services/accessability-supports
- Newfoundland/Labrador - Special Assistance Program - https://www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/personsdisabilities/fundingprograms_hcs.html#sap
- Northwest Territories – Specified Disease Conditions Program - https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/supplementary-health-benefits/extended-health-benefits-specified-disease-conditions
- Yukon - Chronic Disease and Disability Benefits Program - http://www.hss.gov.yk.ca/chronicdisease.php
- Nunavut -
Federal Department Healthcare Funding
- Non-insured Health Benefit Program (NIHB) – Indigenous Health Program - https://www.canada.ca/en/indigenous-services-canada/services/non-insured-health-benefits-first-nations-inuit.html
- Veterans Affairs – https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/health-support/information-for-healthcare-service-providers/bppr
Worker Compensation Programs
Each province has a Worker Compensation Program that covers those who are injured on the job. These departments go by different names across the province but provide orthotic and prosthetic funding when injuries occur at work.
- British Columbia - WorkSafe BC - http://www.worksafebc.com
- Alberta - Workers Compensation Board (WCB) – http://www.wcb.ab.ca
- Saskatchewan – Saskatchewan Workers Compensation Board – http://www.wcbsask.com
- Manitoba – Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba - http://www.wcb.mb.ca/
- Ontario - Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) - https://www.wsib.ca/en
- Quebec – Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) - http://www.csst.qc.ca/en/Pages/all_english_content.aspx
- New Brunswick – WorkSafeNB - http://www.worksafenb.ca
- Nova Scotia – Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia – http://www.wcb.ns.ca
- Prince Edward Island – Workers' Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island - http://www.wcb.pe.ca/
- Newfoundland/Labrador – WorkplaceNL - https://workplacenl.ca/
- Northwest Territories - Workers' Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut - http://www.wscc.nt.ca/
- Yukon – Yukon Workers' Compensation, Health and Safety Board - http://wcb.yk.ca/
- Nunavut – Workers' Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut - http://www.wscc.nt.ca/