Your benefits card says RBC Insurance, and you're thinking about booking therapy. Before you do, you probably want to know whether you'll be paying the whole bill yourself. So, does RBC Insurance cover therapy? Often it can, but the answer depends heavily on what kind of RBC plan you have and what's in it. Here's how to find out, step by step, and how billing works when you see one of our therapists.
General information only: nothing here is financial or insurance advice, and your own RBC plan documents always have the final say.
Start here: what kind of RBC plan do you have?
The first question isn't really "does RBC cover therapy?" It's "which RBC plan am I on?" There are two broad types, and they can work very differently.
Group benefits through work. Most people with RBC health coverage get it through an employer, union or association. Your employer picks the benefits, the limits and which professionals are included. If you have a benefits card from work, this is probably you.
A personal policy you bought yourself. RBC Insurance’s own page on personal injury and illness insurance lists disability insurance, which helps protect your income if you can’t work, critical illness insurance, which pays a one-time amount, and hospital insurance, which pays a daily amount while you’re in hospital. Those products are not described as covering per-session therapy fees, so if one of them is your only RBC coverage, read the policy itself before you count on it for counselling.
If you're not sure which you have, check your benefits card or ask your HR department or plan administrator.
What RBC says about group health coverage
On its group benefits page, RBC Insurance says its group health plans can include paramedical services from covered practitioners and therapists, and it lists the clinical psychologist as one example. That's a good sign for RBC insurance psychologist coverage, but it doesn't tell you what your employer actually chose.
RBC group benefits psychotherapy coverage, and coverage for social workers, depends on how your employer's plan is set up. Some plans list psychologists, psychotherapists and social workers separately. Others group them together under one combined maximum. Some list only certain professions.
Matching your RBC plan to our therapists’ titles
When you read your plan, match the titles it lists to the professionals on our team:
Registered Psychotherapist (RP). Listed as "psychotherapist" on many plans.
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). A registered member of the same college as an RP who is still completing supervised practice. Check whether your plan covers psychotherapists in general.
Registered Social Worker (RSW). Often listed as "social worker" or "MSW."
Psychologist. Listed as "psychologist" or "clinical psychologist."
Does RBC cover counselling with all of these? It depends on your plan. If your plan lists only one or two of these titles, our admin team can help match you with a therapist whose designation your plan covers.
Five things to confirm before your first session
Sign in to RBC’s Online Insurance site or the RBC Insurance My Benefits app, or open your benefits booklet, find the section on extended health or paramedical services and confirm:
Covered professions. Does your plan name psychologists, psychotherapists and social workers, or only some of them?
Your yearly maximum. How many dollars are available each year, and is the amount shared with other services like massage or physiotherapy?
How much is paid per session. Is there a percentage the plan covers, or a per-visit cap?
Whether virtual sessions count. Are online sessions treated the same as in-person ones?
Any paperwork requirements. Does your plan ask for a referral, a diagnosis or anything else before it pays?
Write the answers down. They'll help you plan how many sessions your coverage can support.
Two ways to pay: claim it yourself or let us direct bill
Submitting a claim yourself. You pay for the session, we give you a receipt, and you submit it to RBC Insurance for reimbursement, often through RBC's online member services or app. Reimbursement goes to you according to your plan's terms.
Direct billing through us. RBC Insurance is on our list of insurers we can direct bill for sessions with Registered Social Workers and Registered Psychotherapists, including Registered Psychotherapists (Qualifying). With RBC insurance direct billing, therapy sessions are submitted by us after each appointment, so you're not paying the full fee up front and waiting for a refund.
For direct billing to work, your plan has to allow it. If your plan only covers part of a session, or your maximum runs out, the remaining balance is charged to your credit card on file.
What about virtual sessions?
Many people prefer online therapy for its convenience, privacy or because getting to an office is hard. We offer online sessions anywhere in Ontario on a secure, encrypted video platform, and in person in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and Ottawa.
Whether your RBC plan treats virtual sessions the same as in-person sessions is something to confirm in your booklet or with your plan administrator. Plans differ on this, so you'll want to know before you book a series of online sessions.
When coverage is tight
If your annual maximum is small, you can still make it go further:
Combine plans. If you're also covered under a spouse's or partner's plan, you may be able to claim the remaining balance there.
Use a Health Spending Account. If your employer offers one, it can often cover what your main plan doesn't.
Adjust the rhythm. Weekly sessions at first, then every two or three weeks once things settle, can stretch your coverage.
Plan with your therapist. Tell them your limit early, so the work can be paced around it.
If you’d rather not decode the booklet alone, send our admin team a photo of your RBC benefits card and they’ll help you work out what to ask.
Common questions
What if a claim is turned down? Ask RBC Insurance for the reason in writing. Sometimes it's a simple fix, like a missing detail on the receipt or a therapist designation your plan lists under a different name. Our admin team can help you check what's on your receipts.
Can I use my coverage for couples or family sessions? Some plans reimburse these sessions and some don't, and it can depend on whose name the claim is under. Ask your plan administrator before you book.
Will my employer know what I talk about? What you discuss in therapy is confidential between you and your therapist, with a few legal limits your therapist will explain. If you're worried about what information your plan shares, ask your plan administrator how claims are handled.
Who do I call at RBC? RBC Insurance lists 1-855-264-2173 and groupbenefitssolutions@rbc.com for group plan members with questions about an existing policy. Your benefits card or booklet may list a different number for your plan.
What if I change jobs? Your coverage usually ends when your group plan ends. Check your new plan before booking more sessions, and let us know if your insurer changes.
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. Mention that you have RBC Insurance, share what your plan covers if you know, and they'll help you find a therapist who fits both your needs and your benefits.
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.
Sorting out coverage first can make it much easier to focus on what matters: getting the support you need.