Shockwave therapy in Canada: is it covered?
General information only. Not medical, insurance or legal advice. Coverage rules and prices change, so confirm with your insurer or public health service (such as the NHS, HSE or Medicare) before booking, and ask your doctor whether a procedure is right for you.
Coverage rules are set by each province and territory. Fee codes below are what the province pays the doctor, not what you pay.
Is it covered?
Ontario’s Schedule of Benefits lists shock-wave treatment only for breaking up stones (urinary tract and bile duct), not for musculoskeletal problems. Government-funded physiotherapy in Ontario is limited to specific groups, such as people aged 65 or over or 19 or under, and people recently discharged from hospital.
Extended health benefits and prices
Lifemark says shockwave therapy may be partially or fully covered through extended health benefits. Check whether your plan counts it as physiotherapy and what your annual maximum is.
Some clinics charge for shockwave on its own or as an add-on to a physiotherapy visit. Ask the clinic for its current price.
How coverage works in Canada
Under the Canada Health Act, provinces insure medically necessary hospital and physician services. A procedure done by a doctor in a public hospital or clinic is usually paid by your provincial plan. Provinces that allow extra-billing or user charges for insured services lose part of their federal health transfer, so patients are generally not charged extra, although Quebec doctors who opt out of RAMQ can bill patients directly. Physiotherapy, drugs and devices outside hospital are often not insured, and many people use workplace extended health benefits for these. How coverage works in Canada.
Paying yourself: the medical expense tax credit
Eligible medical expenses above the lower of 3% of your net income or C$2,834 (2025 tax year) can be claimed on your tax return. Fees paid to a medical practitioner, including a physiotherapist recognised in your province, are generally eligible. Check the Canada Revenue Agency’s guide before you claim.
If you are refused or charged
- If you are asked to pay for a service your provincial plan insures, ask why. In Ontario, you can report it to the Ministry of Health on 1-888-662-6613.
- Ontario decisions about OHIP coverage can be appealed to the Health Services Appeal and Review Board.
- For a complaint about a private insurer, complain to the insurer first, then to the OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance (OLHI), which is free.
Frequently asked questions
Does extended health insurance cover shockwave therapy?
Possibly, if your plan includes it (often as physiotherapy). Ask your insurer before you book.
Exercises for heel and tendon pain
Exercise and staying active are part of most treatment plans, whether or not you have an injection or surgery. These free routines and printable sheets are a good place to start.
- Plantar fasciitis exercise routine
- Calf stretch for plantar fasciitis
- Free printable plantar fasciitis sheet
A physiotherapist can tailor an exercise plan to you.
Sources
- Ontario Schedule of Benefits: Physician Services (effective July 1, 2026)
- Ontario: Physiotherapy clinics (government-funded)
- Lifemark: Shockwave therapy
- Cornerstone Physiotherapy (Toronto): Shockwave therapy
- Canada Health Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-6)
- Canada Health Act, sections 18 and 19 (extra-billing and user charges)
- RAMQ: Frequently asked questions about costs billed
- Canada Revenue Agency: Lines 33099 and 33199, eligible medical expenses
- Canada Revenue Agency: Authorized medical practitioners for the medical expense tax credit
- Ontario: What OHIP covers
- Health Services Appeal and Review Board (Ontario)
- OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance (OLHI): Complaints
Last checked October 2026. Found something out of date? Email hello@protocolarchive.com.
This page explains how coverage usually works, using public government, insurer, ombudsman and clinic sources listed above. It is general information, not medical, insurance, financial or legal advice, and it does not recommend any treatment, policy or provider. Rules differ by province and by plan and can change, so confirm with your doctor, your provincial plan, your insurer or the clinic before you decide. Protocol Archive is independent and is not affiliated with any government health plan or insurer.