Funding of Treatments
Funding Options
There are several types of funding available to make custom orthoses and prostheses accessible. They are:
- Provincial Healthcare Funding - public healthcare, social assistance
- Private Health Insurance Plan Funding - Manulife, Great West Life, Sunlife, etc.
- Manitoba Public Insurance
- 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 and prostheses are 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 by way of a prescription
- Orthosis is required for prolonged period to address malady
- Assessment, fabrication and fit must be done at an authorized facility by a Certified Orthotist CO(c)
Most provinces that provide public funding for prosthetics require that:
- Determination of readiness or need for prosthetic treatment is provided by an authorized medical professional by way of a prescription
- Assessment, fabrication and fit must be done at an authorized facility by a Certified Prosthetist CP(c)
The Manitoba healthcare funding program for orthotic and prosthetic treatment is:
Manitoba Health Prosthetic and Orthotic Program
Federal Department Healthcare Funding
Non-insured Health Benefit Program (NIHB) - Indigenous Health Program
Veterans Affairs
Worker Compensation Program
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.
Worker Compensation Program
Additional Funding Programs
For more information:
Orthotics Prosthetics Canada (OPC)
War Amps
Easter Seals Manitoba
March of Dimes Canada
