If you have Manulife benefits, you're probably wondering: does Manulife cover a psychologist, therapy or an ADHD assessment? It's a smart thing to ask before you book. The honest answer is that it depends on your plan, the type of practitioner and the service. Manulife plans are set up by employers, so two people with Manulife cards can get different answers. This guide shows where to look, what to ask and how claiming works, without guessing about your plan.
This article is general information, not a promise of coverage. Only your own plan and Manulife can tell you what is covered.
The short answer, and why it depends on your plan
Nobody outside your plan can tell you exactly what you're covered for, and that includes us. Manulife says on its own page that coverage amounts, maximums and practitioner types vary by plan. Your employer chooses the list, so your plan may include some practitioners and leave out others.
Most people find it helpful to look at three things: the type of practitioner, the type of service and how much of this year's maximum is left. CAMH notes that psychologists' fees are not covered by most provincial health plans. That's why many people turn to private benefits for this kind of care.
Where to see your coverage and balance
Manulife publishes the steps, so you can check without calling anyone. Here is how it describes them.
In the Manulife Mobile app. Sign in, tap the "Coverage" tab, then choose the specific practitioner type to see your balance.
On the plan member site. Sign in, click "Coverage & Balances" on the home page, then under "Health" pick the practitioner type from the drop-down menu.
In your benefits booklet. Manulife's member questions page says you can find it by signing in, choosing Coverage, then "Your benefits" and "View benefits booklet."
Manulife also says the "Coverage & balances" page shows your balances for health, dental, drugs and any Health Care Spending Account or Wellness Account, so you can check your spending account in the same place. If you can't find your booklet, your plan administrator at work can point you to it. Your plan documents always win over anything you read online, including this article.
You don't need to read every page. Look for the words psychologist, psychotherapist, social worker, counsellor, mental health and assessment. Those few lines usually hold the answer.
Psychologists, psychotherapists and social workers, how plans list them
Plans often list mental health care by the type of practitioner. Manulife's member questions page says services may only be covered when they are provided by eligible and licensed or registered providers. It also lists the things that shape what you get back: the coverage percentage, the maximum, any deductible and the eligibility rules.
That means it's worth checking each practitioner type on its own line. Some plans group several types together under one shared maximum, and others keep them separate. We can't tell you which applies to you.
At our clinic, Registered Psychotherapists (RPs) and Registered Social Workers (RSWs) provide therapy, and our psychologists assess and diagnose. Our guide to insurance and therapy in Ontario explains how these roles usually appear on benefits plans.
ADHD or autism assessments, and what to ask about them
Assessments are a different service from weekly therapy. In Ontario, psychologists can assess and diagnose. Whether your plan pays for an assessment depends on how your plan words it, and some plans treat it differently from therapy. We can't say which applies to you, and Manulife's pages don't give an answer for assessments.
When you check, use the exact name of the service, such as "psychological assessment" or "ADHD assessment." Ask Manulife whether it counts toward your psychology line, whether it shares a maximum with therapy and whether any paperwork is needed. NIMH explains that an adult ADHD assessment may include interviews, rating scales and psychological tests, so it also helps to ask whether the whole assessment or only parts of it are eligible. If you're thinking about an adult assessment, you can read about our ADHD or autism assessments. Assessment fees depend on the service, and we go over them with you in your free consultation.
Claiming and direct billing
There are two common ways to use your benefits.
Pay and claim. You pay at your session, then send the receipt to Manulife. Manulife says you can submit claims through the app or the plan member site. It adds that in most cases you need an itemized receipt, though some expenses need extra documents. Manulife also says to keep your receipts for 12 months after you submit, because it sometimes audits claims.
Direct billing. The clinic sends the claim for you, and you pay only the part your plan doesn't cover. Manulife says that if a provider offers direct billing, they can submit the claim on your behalf.
We can direct bill many plans, and you can read more on our direct billing page. Ask our team whether your Manulife plan is one of them. Manulife also says psychologists, social workers, counsellors and psychotherapists can submit provider claims electronically in provinces where they are regulated.
Depending on your plan, your insurance may cover the full session fee.
A few other points from Manulife's member questions page can save you time:
If you don't see your practitioner type in the list, Manulife says you can still submit a claim using "Provider not listed" under paramedical, and it will review the claim based on your coverage.
Your recent claims appear on the app or site home page, with a progress bar showing where each one is in the review.
If you and your spouse both have benefits and coordination of benefits is set up, you may be able to send a claim to both plans.
Questions to ask before you book
You don't need to be an insurance expert. A short list of questions gets you most of the way.
Which practitioners are covered, such as psychologists, psychotherapists or social workers?
Is there a yearly maximum, and is it shared between types of practitioner?
Is there a deductible, or a percentage that's paid back?
How much of this year's benefit is left?
Is the exact service I want covered, whether therapy, couples therapy or an assessment?
What documents do I need to send with my claim?
Write down the date and the name of the person you spoke with, so you can refer back to it later. If you aren't sure which line your service falls under, ask Manulife to name the exact category before you book. A quick answer now can save a surprise later.
What our fees look like
Individual sessions are $130 to $200. Couples and family sessions are $170 to $200. Student therapists offer sessions for $0 to $80. New clients pay a one-time $50 setup fee, which we don't charge for the free 15-minute consultation. We also accept Health Spending Accounts.
If your plan covers less than you hoped
A smaller benefit doesn't mean therapy is out of reach. You can use what your plan gives you and cover the rest another way. Many people spread their sessions across the year, or choose a student therapist for some of them.
Tell us your budget in your free consultation. We'd rather you start with a plan you can keep up than stop halfway because the cost surprised you.
Frequently asked questions
Will my plan cover a psychologist?
Many plans list psychologists, but each plan sets its own rules and amounts. Check your balance in the app or on the plan member site to see your own answer.
Can I find out before my first session?
Yes. You can look up your balance for each practitioner type, and Manulife can answer questions about your plan. Our team can also help you work out what to ask.
Do you promise my session will be covered?
No. Coverage is decided by your plan, not by us. We can tell you our session fees and talk through how billing works, but your insurer makes the final call.
Start with a free conversation
You don't have to sort this out alone. Book a free 15-minute consultation to ask about our team, our fees and how billing works. Our team can help you check your card before your first session. We see clients in person in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and Ottawa, and online across Ontario. No referral is needed. For background on therapy itself, NIMH explains how talk therapy works.