After an Alberta motor vehicle accident, seek appropriate medical attention, notify the insurer, and contact an MVA physiotherapy clinic to begin understanding the claims process as soon as practical. For applicable minor injuries treated under Alberta’s current Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols Regulation, the usual treatment window is 90 days from the collision, but eligibility, billing, and further care depend on the individual claim and circumstances.
Medical safety comes first after a collision
Routine physiotherapy is not a substitute for urgent medical assessment. Seek urgent medical attention for urgent or worsening concerns after a collision.
Once urgent concerns have been addressed, physiotherapy may help assess movement-related problems and support a return to daily activities. Physio 1 Airdrie states that MVA appointments can be arranged after a collision, but appropriate medical care remains the first step for urgent concerns.
The MVA physiotherapy claims process from start to finish
The process is easier to manage when you treat it as a sequence. You do not need to resolve every insurance question before taking the next practical step.
- Record the collision details. Note the date, location, vehicles involved, your role, symptoms, and any police or medical information you receive.
- Seek medical attention when needed. If you receive medical care, keep relevant records and information available for the claim and clinic.
- Notify the auto insurer. Provide notice of the accident-benefits claim and ask what information or forms are required. Alberta states that injured people may access accident-benefits coverage regardless of fault when the applicable process is followed.
- Contact a physiotherapy clinic promptly. Ask about an MVA assessment, required information, appointment arrangements, and billing. The clinic’s MVA physiotherapy information explains its booking process and the details to prepare.
- Provide claim information. Share the insurer’s name, policy or claim number if issued, adjuster details if available, collision date, and your role.
- Complete the assessment. The physiotherapist will discuss the collision, symptoms, movement, function, and goals. An assessment-led physiotherapy process connects those findings to an individualized plan.
- Follow the agreed treatment plan. Care may include exercise, education, hands-on treatment, and progress reviews.
- Track appointments and billing. Keep appointment information and ask promptly about anything that differs from what you and the insurer discussed.
- Reassess before the initial treatment window ends. If symptoms remain, ask what documentation and insurer steps apply to further care.
You do not necessarily need an insurance claim number before making an enquiry. Tell the clinic what information you have and what is outstanding. Physio 1 Airdrie asks patients to have insurer and claim details ready and says its front desk will explain how appointments are arranged. Related reading: What Does a Physiotherapist Do in Airdrie?.
Who handles each part of an Alberta MVA claim?
Insurance administration and clinical care are connected, but they are not the same responsibility.
| Person or organization | Typical responsibility |
|---|---|
| You, the injured person | Provide notice, share accurate accident and health information, attend appointments, follow the plan, and ask about billing or coverage. |
| Insurer or adjuster | Administer the claim, explain claim-specific requirements, confirm eligibility and payment arrangements, and identify missing information. |
| Physician or other primary healthcare practitioner | Provide medical care and relevant information within their role when this applies to the collision and claim. |
| Physiotherapy clinic | Assess movement and function, discuss rehabilitation, arrange appointments, keep clinical documentation, and explain its MVA information and billing process. |
Alberta’s practitioner insurance guidance covers claims and billing processes for healthcare providers. The province’s current automobile-collision information and Superintendent of Insurance guidance are better starting points than assumptions based on another person’s claim.
What the current DTPR and 90-day treatment window mean
DTPR refers to Alberta’s Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols Regulation. In plain language, it provides a protocol-based route for certain collision-related injuries and sets requirements for treatment, claims, and billing.
Under Alberta’s Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols Regulation, the protocols stop applying 90 days after the accident or once the visit limit is reached, whichever comes first. The current system allows 10 to 21 visits, depending on the injury, without the insurer’s approval if you have given notice of your claim. The 90-day period runs from the collision date, not from the day symptoms appear or physiotherapy begins.
The window is not a promise that every injury, person, or claim receives identical treatment. It also does not mean recovery must be complete by day 90. If symptoms continue, arrange reassessment before the initial period ends and ask what process applies to further treatment that requires insurer authorization.
This article describes the process current on October 26, 2026. Alberta has announced a future Care-First framework and a new Program of Care scheduled for January 1, 2027. Those changes should not be treated as the current process for a collision being handled today.
What to prepare before booking or attending
Have the following information available if you can. Missing one item should be a question to resolve, not a reason to guess.
- Collision date and approximate location
- Your role, such as driver, passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist
- Auto insurer and adjuster contact information, if available
- Policy or claim number, if issued
- Police report or incident information, if relevant
- Medical records or discharge information relevant to the collision
- When symptoms began and how they affect sleep, work, driving, exercise, or daily tasks
- Previous injuries or treatment that may help explain your current function
- Questions about appointments, billing, timing, and insurer communication
Physio 1 Airdrie is on Mackenzie Way SW in Airdrie. Its MVA service information asks patients to have insurer and claim details ready and explains that the front desk will discuss appointment arrangements.
Direct billing, reimbursement, and possible out-of-pocket costs
Direct billing means the clinic submits eligible charges through an insurer or claims process instead of requiring you to pay the full charge first. Reimbursement means you pay according to the clinic’s arrangement and then seek repayment. The exact arrangement depends on the claim, insurer, service, and clinic process.
Do not assume direct billing means every appointment is fully covered. Before treatment, ask whether the clinic can submit charges for your claim, which forms are required, whether services need prior authorization, what happens if eligibility is unconfirmed, and whether you may owe an uncovered amount.
Alberta’s automobile-collision guidance explains the general accident-benefits framework, while practitioner guidance addresses claims and billing. Confirm individual payment responsibility with both the insurer and clinic.
Does your role in the collision change the next step?
Your role affects the information collected, but fault alone should not be used to assume that you do or do not qualify for accident benefits. Alberta states that injured people are entitled to accident-benefits coverage regardless of fault when applicable requirements are followed.
- Driver: Provide collision, insurer, and medical details, then ask how the claim should be opened.
- Passenger: Give the clinic and insurer your own information. The vehicle owner’s claim details may not answer every question about your care.
- Pedestrian or cyclist: Explain how the collision occurred and identify any insurer or claim information you have.
- At-fault or unclear liability: Do not delay necessary enquiries while fault is being settled. Notify the insurer and confirm eligibility and billing directly.
These are practical starting points, not a determination of legal liability or coverage. A disputed entitlement may require qualified insurance or legal advice.
What if symptoms continue after the initial treatment period?
The end of the initial DTPR window does not prove that symptoms should be gone. It means the initial protocol-based pathway has a time limit, so ongoing concerns need reassessment.
Before 90 days end, ask the physiotherapist to review your progress, limitations, and functional goals. Ask the insurer or adjuster what information is needed for further treatment that requires authorization. Further care may require clinical documentation and insurer consideration, and approval is not guaranteed.
If you have new or worsening concerns, contact an appropriate healthcare professional promptly.
What to do if the claim or insurer process is delayed
Ask the adjuster exactly what is missing, who must provide it, and whether the delay affects appointment or billing arrangements. Record the date of each call, the person you spoke with, and any reference information.
Tell the physiotherapy clinic that the claim is delayed or disputed. Ask what information it needs, whether an assessment can be arranged under its process, and what payment responsibility would apply if eligibility is unconfirmed. The clinic cannot decide liability or guarantee payment.
If the insurer disputes entitlement or you need advice about a settlement, income replacement, caregiver benefits, or liability, seek advice from a qualified insurance or legal professional.
Common questions about Alberta MVA physiotherapy claims
Do I need an insurance claim number before booking MVA physiotherapy?
No. Make an initial enquiry with the information you have and explain whether the insurer has not issued a claim number.
Who pays for physiotherapy after a motor vehicle accident in Alberta?
Payment depends on the claim, service, accident-benefits process, and billing arrangement. Confirm coverage and responsibility with the insurer and clinic.
Can I receive physiotherapy if I was at fault?
Possibly. Alberta accident-benefit access is not determined solely by fault, so notify the insurer and ask how the process applies to your circumstances.
What happens after the 90-day treatment period?
Arrange reassessment before the initial period ends and ask about further treatment that may require authorization. Continued care may require documentation and insurer consideration.
Can a physiotherapy clinic direct bill my auto insurer?
That depends on the insurer, claim, service, and clinic arrangements. Ask what information is required and what happens if a charge is declined.
What if my insurer delays or disputes my claim?
Ask what is missing, keep written records, tell the clinic, and confirm payment responsibility. Seek qualified insurance or legal advice for disputed entitlement.
If you are ready to discuss movement problems after a collision, Physio 1 Airdrie Sports Injury & Wellness Clinic provides local care on Mackenzie Way SW in Airdrie. You can arrange MVA physiotherapy online and provide your insurer and claim information when booking.
This article is educational and does not replace an assessment, diagnosis or advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
