You're ready to start therapy, and you have benefits through iA Financial Group, also known as Industrial Alliance. Now you're wondering what your plan will actually pay for. Does iA Financial cover psychotherapy? In many cases, iA plans include some coverage for therapy, but the details depend on your specific plan. This guide explains what to look for, how to check and how direct billing works with us.
This post is general information, not financial or insurance advice. Your plan documents are always the final word.
The short answer
iA Financial Group offers group insurance plans to employers, and its own description of medical and paramedical coverage lists psychologists among the paramedical professionals a plan can reimburse. Some iA plan documents also list psychotherapists and social workers.
But "can" is the key word. Your employer chooses what goes into your plan. That means two people with iA benefits can have very different coverage. Some plans include generous mental health coverage, others include a small amount and some may not include it at all.
The only way to know for sure is to check your own plan. The good news is that it usually takes just a few minutes.
Which therapists your plan may cover
iA plans tend to list coverage by professional title. Here are the titles you'll see on our team:
Psychologist. iA's own overview of paramedical care names psychologists, so Industrial Alliance psychologist coverage is the first thing to look for.
Registered Psychotherapist (RP). Some iA plan documents list psychotherapists alongside psychologists. Check whether yours does.
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). An RP (Qualifying) is registered with the same college as an RP and practises with clinical supervision. Check whether your plan covers RPs in general, and ask us which of our therapists qualify under your plan.
Registered Social Worker (RSW). Social workers who provide psychotherapy.
So, does iA cover social workers? Some iA plan documents, such as the Transit plan summary below, list social workers alongside psychologists and psychotherapists, sometimes under a single shared maximum. Your plan may be set up differently, so check the exact wording in your booklet.
What to look for in your plan
When you open your benefits booklet or member site, look for the section on paramedical services or extended health care. Then check:
Which professionals are listed. Look for psychologist, psychotherapist and social worker by name.
Your annual maximum. Is there a dollar limit per year, and is it shared with other services?
Your reimbursement percentage. What share of each session fee does the plan pay?
Per-session limits. Some plans cap how much they'll pay per visit.
Online sessions. Are virtual sessions covered the same way as in-person ones?
Referral requirements. Does your plan require a referral for any of these services?
A Health Spending Account. Some employers add an HSA, which can help cover what your plan doesn't.
An example of what iA plan limits can look like
To give you a sense of how much plans can vary, here's one example from iA's own published materials. In a 2022 brochure, iA's Transit plan, an individual health plan for people leaving a group plan, lists coverage for psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers and other professionals, with maximums of $300 or $750 per person per calendar year depending on the plan level.
That's just one example. Group plans set up by employers can have very different limits, higher or lower. Treat any number you see online as an illustration, not as your coverage.
How to check your coverage
Here are the most common ways to find your iA Financial Group mental health benefits:
Your benefits booklet. Usually available from HR or your employer's benefits portal.
iA's member website or app. Many plan members can look up coverage and remaining balances online.
Your plan administrator or HR. They can explain what's included and answer questions about your specific plan.
Calling iA. Your benefits card or booklet lists a contact number for questions about your plan.
If you'd like help, you can also send us a picture of your benefits card, and our admin team can help you figure out what to ask. Our page on insurance and benefits has more tips for checking coverage.
iA Financial direct billing for therapy with us
Industrial Alliance is on our list of insurers we can direct bill for sessions with Registered Social Workers and Registered Psychotherapists. Direct billing means we submit the claim to iA for you after your session, so you don't have to pay the full amount up front and wait to be reimbursed.
A few things to know about iA Financial direct billing, therapy sessions included:
Your plan must allow it. Some plans don't permit direct billing by the provider.
Some therapists may not qualify. Direct billing can depend on your therapist's designation and your plan's rules, so ask us which therapists we can direct bill iA for.
Any balance goes on your card. If your coverage runs out or your plan pays only part of the cost, the remaining amount is charged to your credit card on file.
Our guide to which insurers may cover counselling lists the insurers we can direct bill.
Questions to ask iA or your HR team
If your booklet isn't clear, a short call or email can save you surprises later. Useful questions include:
Does my plan cover psychotherapy with a Registered Psychotherapist, a Registered Social Worker or both?
Is coverage for psychologists separate from coverage for psychotherapists and social workers, or shared?
What's my annual maximum, and how much have I used this year?
Is there a per-session limit or a limit on the number of sessions?
Are online sessions covered the same way as in-person sessions?
Can my family members use the same coverage?
Write down the answers, along with the date and the name of the person you spoke to. It makes things easier if a question comes up later.
If your coverage is limited or runs out
Annual maximums can run out faster than you expect, especially if you're coming weekly. A few options:
Use a Health Spending Account if your employer offers one.
Space out sessions once you've made progress, such as moving from weekly to every two or three weeks.
Plan ahead with your therapist. Let them know your limit so you can plan the work together.
Check your partner's plan. If your spouse or partner has benefits that cover you, you may be able to combine coverage from both plans. Ask both insurers how coordination of benefits works.
Talk to our admin team. They can walk you through how your coverage applies to sessions with us and help you plan how far it will stretch.
What sessions cost
Individual sessions with our therapists range from $130 to $200, depending on the clinician. Couples and family sessions range from $170 to $200. Knowing the cost helps you work out how far your coverage will stretch.
Cost and billing
Here's a quick summary:
Individual sessions range from $130 to $200, depending on the clinician. Couples and family sessions range from $170 to $200.
Depending on your plan, insurance may cover some or all of the cost. Coverage varies, so it's worth checking your plan.
We accept Health Spending Accounts (HSAs).
We can direct bill many insurers, including for sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). Desjardins is the exception: through TELUS eClaims, we can direct bill Desjardins for sessions with an RSW, RP or psychologist, but not for an RP (Qualifying).
Your first step
Book a free 15-minute consultation with our admin team. Let them know you have iA benefits, and they can help you understand what to ask and match you with a therapist who fits your needs and your plan. We offer sessions in person in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and Ottawa, and online anywhere in Ontario.
If you're in crisis: call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. If you're having thoughts of suicide, call or text 9-8-8 any time, day or night. You can find more options on our crisis lines page.
A few minutes with your benefits booklet can make starting therapy a lot less stressful.