Been in a motor vehicle accident? You’re automatically pre-approved for treatments under ICBC’s Enhanced Care — no doctor’s referral needed. Here’s everything you need to know to start your recovery with physiotherapy, acupuncture, and massage therapy in Surrey, BC.
Getting Started
If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident in British Columbia — whether as a driver, passenger, cyclist, or pedestrian — you’re eligible for ICBC accident benefits regardless of who was at fault. Under ICBC’s Enhanced Care model (in effect since May 2021), the process is straightforward.
First, report your claim to ICBC online at icbc.com or by calling 604-520-8222 (Lower Mainland) or 1-800-910-4222 (toll-free). You’ll receive a claim number immediately. Then contact Move to Motion with your claim number and accident date — we handle the rest, including direct billing to ICBC. No upfront payment required, no doctor’s referral needed within the first 12 weeks.
Pre-Approved Sessions
For the first 12 weeks after your crash, ICBC automatically pre-approves coverage for a range of treatments. You don’t need a doctor’s referral or ICBC approval — just your claim number and your Personal Health Number (PHN). These session counts include your initial assessment visit.
Pre-approved treatment sessions (May 2025 – March 2026):
All fees listed are standard rates covered by ICBC with no out-of-pocket cost to you. At Move to Motion, we offer physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture, kinesiology/active rehab, and counselling — all under one roof and all direct-billed to ICBC.
Key Guidelines
No referral needed. Within the first 12 weeks, you can access all pre-approved treatments without a doctor’s referral. You only need your ICBC claim number and your PHN.
Fault doesn’t matter. Enhanced Care covers everyone involved in a crash regardless of who was responsible — drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
The 12-week clock starts on your accident date. Your pre-approved sessions must be used within 12 weeks of your crash. Book early to maximize your coverage — time goes quickly.
One treatment per therapy type per day. ICBC allows you to book separate physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, kinesiology, and counselling appointments on the same day — but only one session per discipline.
Prioritize active treatments. ICBC recommends balancing active treatments (where you participate, like physio and active rehab) with passive ones (like massage). Active treatments are more effective at restoring function and strengthen your case if extensions are needed.
No-shows are not covered. ICBC does not pay for missed appointments or late cancellations. It’s your responsibility to attend all booked sessions or cancel in advance.
Stay in touch with your recovery specialist. ICBC assigns you a recovery specialist to support your claim. Contact them by phone or email every 2–3 weeks to keep your file active and ensure smooth coverage.
After 12 Weeks
Most injuries recover within 12 weeks, but if yours doesn’t, you may qualify for a benefit extension. Your health care provider at Move to Motion will submit a treatment plan to ICBC on your behalf, documenting your progress and recommending additional sessions. To avoid gaps in treatment, we submit extension requests approximately 2 weeks before your 12-week window ends.
ICBC reviews each request individually based on clinical documentation and recovery progress. For Recovery Network providers like Move to Motion, decisions are typically returned within two weeks. For more complex cases, ICBC may request a Comprehensive Medical Assessment (CMA) by an independent team of health care professionals.
Additional Benefits
If your injuries prevent you from working for more than 7 days, you may receive up to 90% of your lost wages (based on a max gross annual income of $113,000). Contact your recovery specialist with your employment details.
If your injuries limit daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, or personal hygiene, ICBC may cover personal care assistance. A Personal Care Assessment with your recovery specialist determines eligibility.
ICBC can help cover treatment-related travel costs including mileage, transit fares, and parking. Keep all receipts and submit them within 180 days of the expense.
If you were the primary caregiver of another person before the crash, ICBC covers weekly caregiving expenses so that person continues to receive care while you recover.
If you’re off work due to a concussion or brain injury from the crash, you may be eligible for specialized pilot programs including team-based treatment. Ask your recovery specialist.
For severe, permanent, or catastrophic injuries, ICBC provides a lump sum benefit for permanent impairment, higher personal care coverage, and benefits for extraordinary expenses like home and vehicle modifications.
Why Move to Motion
Move to Motion is part of ICBC’s Recovery Network, meaning we direct bill ICBC for all covered services — you pay nothing out of pocket. Our multidisciplinary team of physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, kinesiologists, and a clinical counsellor all work under one roof in Surrey, BC, collaborating on your recovery plan.
We handle all the paperwork: claim verification, direct billing, treatment plan submissions, and extension requests. You focus on getting better. We can often get you in for your first appointment the same day or next day after you contact us.
Call us with your ICBC claim number. We’ll take care of the rest.