Can you use extended health benefits for a naturopathic doctor in BC? Often, yes: many workplace and private plans include naturopathic visits, usually up to an annual maximum and sometimes with a per-visit cap. MSP does not pay for routine naturopathic care, but it may contribute toward a limited number of visits for people approved for MSP Supplementary Benefits. Lab tests, supplements, procedures and prescription drugs are typically handled separately.
This guide from the Skin Art MD team in Burnaby (Metrotown) walks through how the pieces fit together, what your receipt needs to show, and the questions worth asking your insurer before your first appointment. Coverage rules change and every plan is different, so treat this as a checklist rather than a promise of reimbursement. Information is current as of October 2026.
Does MSP Cover a Naturopathic Doctor in BC?
For most people, no. The Medical Services Plan (MSP) does not pay for regular naturopathic visits, so the visit fee is either paid out of pocket or claimed through an extended health plan.
There is one exception worth knowing about. According to Health Insurance BC and the Government of BC (gov.bc.ca), residents approved for MSP Supplementary Benefits (the program that replaced premium assistance) may have MSP pay a set amount per visit toward a limited number of visits each calendar year. That annual limit is shared across several practitioner types, including naturopathy, chiropractic, massage therapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture and non-surgical podiatry. The MSP portion does not usually cover the full visit fee, so you may still pay a balance.
If you think you may qualify, check your status with Health Insurance BC before your visit and let our front desk know when you book. Eligibility is based on income and is confirmed by the province, not by the clinic.
Lab tests ordered by a naturopathic doctor are generally not paid by MSP, even when the same test would be covered if your family physician ordered it. This is one of the most common surprises, and we come back to it below.
How Do Extended Health Plans Treat Naturopathic Visits?
Most extended health plans list naturopathic medicine under "paramedical" or "practitioner" services, alongside massage therapy, physiotherapy and similar benefits. Coverage usually works through a percentage, a cap, or both.
Common structures include:
- Annual maximum: a dollar limit for naturopathic services per person per year. Some plans share one maximum across several paramedical practitioners.
- Per-visit cap: a limit on how much the plan will reimburse for a single appointment, regardless of the fee.
- Co-insurance: the plan pays a percentage (for example, a portion of each eligible receipt) and you pay the rest.
- Visit limits: some plans cap the number of visits rather than, or in addition to, the dollar amount.
- Referral requirements: a few plans ask for a physician's referral before they reimburse naturopathic services. This is less common, but it is worth checking.
Your plan booklet or member portal is the only reliable source for your numbers. Two coworkers at the same company can have different coverage if they are on different plan tiers.
What Does Your Receipt Need to Show?
Insurers generally require an official receipt that identifies a registered practitioner. Without the right details, a claim can be delayed or declined.
A naturopathic receipt you can submit usually includes:
- The practitioner's full name and professional designation (ND)
- Their registration number with the regulatory college
- The clinic name and address
- Your name and the date of service
- A description of the service (for example, naturopathic consultation)
- The amount charged and confirmation of payment
In British Columbia, naturopathic doctors are regulated by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHP BC). According to CCHP BC, the public can confirm a practitioner's registration through the college's online registry at cchpbc.ca. Insurers rely on that registration, which is why the registration number appears on every receipt.
At Skin Art MD, naturopathic services are provided by Dr. Ekaterina Krantsevich Riehl, BSc, ND, a naturopathic physician registered in BC. Receipts for naturopathic visits list her registration number so you can submit them to your plan. If your insurer asks for anything additional, such as a specific service code, tell us and we will check what we can provide.
What Is Usually Billed Separately?
The naturopathic visit fee is only one part of the picture. Several common items fall outside the "naturopathic services" benefit, or outside insurance entirely.
Lab tests
When bloodwork is recommended, the test is processed by a community laboratory and billed separately from the visit. Because MSP generally does not pay for ND-ordered tests, you either pay directly or claim the cost through extended health if your plan includes it. Many plans do not. If you already have recent results from your family physician, bring them: they may answer the question without a new test.
Supplements
Supplements are usually not reimbursed by extended health plans, even when a naturopathic doctor recommends them. Some health spending accounts are more flexible, so check if you have one. You are never required to purchase supplements at the clinic.
In-clinic procedures
Procedures such as injections or infusions are often treated differently from a consultation. Some plans reimburse them under the naturopathic benefit, some exclude them, and some cover only part of the visit. Cosmetic procedures, including PRP for skin, are generally not covered by insurance.
Prescription drugs
If a prescription medication is part of a treatment plan, the medication itself is filled at a pharmacy and billed through your drug plan, not your naturopathic benefit. For some medications, BC PharmaCare or a private drug plan may require prior approval (often called special authority) before it pays. According to the Government of BC (gov.bc.ca), PharmaCare coverage depends on your PharmaCare plan, your deductible and the specific drug. The clinic's fee for administering a medication, if any, is a separate charge and may be claimable under a different benefit.
This split is the reason some patients see two or three separate charges for what feels like a single treatment.
How Can You Check Your Plan Before the Visit?
The simplest way to avoid surprises is to call your insurer or log in to your member portal before you book. Write down the answers and the date you asked.
Questions to ask your insurer:
- Is naturopathic medicine covered under my plan, and under which benefit category?
- What is my annual maximum for naturopathic services, and how much have I already used this year?
- Is there a per-visit cap, a co-insurance percentage, or a limit on the number of visits?
- Is the naturopathic maximum shared with other practitioners such as massage or physiotherapy?
- Do I need a physician's referral for reimbursement?
- Are lab tests ordered by a naturopathic doctor covered? Under which benefit?
- Are in-clinic procedures (for example, injections or infusions) covered under the naturopathic benefit, or excluded?
- Does my drug plan require prior authorization for medications prescribed by a naturopathic doctor?
- What does the receipt need to include, and how do I submit it?
- Do I have a health spending account that could apply to items not covered elsewhere?
If you have coverage through a spouse's plan as well as your own, ask how coordination of benefits works. Many people do not use the second plan they already have.
How Do You Get Costs Explained Up Front at Skin Art MD?
The most common complaint about naturopathic care in Greater Vancouver is not the visit itself but the total: a consultation, then tests, then supplements or procedures, with the overall cost only becoming clear afterward. A clear sequence and itemized estimates help prevent that.
At Skin Art MD, your first visit is a 15-minute naturopathic consultation or screening. It covers your health history, current medications, your goals, and whether bloodwork is needed at all. Treatment visits are booked after that, followed by follow-up appointments as needed.
You can ask for any of the following at any point:
- An itemized estimate before anything is ordered: visit fees, lab fees and any procedure fees listed separately, with medication costs noted as a pharmacy charge.
- The reason for each test: what question the result would answer and how it might change the plan.
- What can wait: which recommendations are essential now and which are optional.
- Insurance-ready receipts: with the practitioner's registration number on each one.
- A copy of results for your family physician, so your care stays coordinated.
We do not publish fees online because the components differ from person to person. The front desk can explain current fees and what each visit includes before you book. Our front desk can assist in Chinese; naturopathic consultations are conducted in English. You can read more about how naturopathic care works at the clinic on our naturopathic medicine page. Individual results vary, and a naturopathic doctor works alongside, not in place of, your family physician.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a naturopathic doctor covered by MSP in BC?
Routine visits are not. People approved for MSP Supplementary Benefits may receive a set MSP payment toward a limited number of combined practitioner visits per year. Confirm eligibility with Health Insurance BC.
Will my extended health plan reimburse the full visit fee?
Not always. Many plans pay a percentage up to a per-visit or annual limit. Check your plan booklet for the exact numbers.
Are blood tests ordered by a naturopath covered?
MSP generally does not pay for ND-ordered lab tests. Some extended health plans or spending accounts reimburse them; many do not. Recent results from your family physician may be usable.
Why did I get a separate pharmacy bill?
Prescription medications are dispensed and billed by a pharmacy through your drug plan or PharmaCare. Any clinic administration fee is a separate charge.
How do I confirm my naturopath is registered?
Search the public registry on the CCHP BC website (cchpbc.ca). Your receipt should show the same registration number.
Can the clinic bill my insurer directly?
This depends on your insurer and plan. Ask the front desk when you book; otherwise you can submit the receipt yourself.
Booking
To start with a 15-minute naturopathic consultation in Burnaby, use our naturopathic booking page. Bring your insurance details, a list of current medications and supplements, and any recent bloodwork. If you would like a cost breakdown before you commit to anything beyond the first visit, just ask, and we will itemize it for you.
