A naturopath is not covered by OHIP in Ontario, but most extended health benefit plans cover naturopathic visits in part or in full, often with an annual limit between $300 and $1,000. ND visits also qualify as a medical expense for the federal Medical Expense Tax Credit, and most Health Spending Accounts include them.
This guide covers what is and is not covered, how extended health plans typically structure naturopathic coverage, how lab work is billed, and how to make the most of your benefits.
OHIP and naturopathic care
OHIP, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, does not cover naturopathic visits, lab tests requisitioned by an ND, or any therapies prescribed by an ND. This is true regardless of the concern, the ND’s experience, or whether your family doctor recommends the visit.
There is one practical workaround for testing: the same foundational blood tests an ND would order, including TSH, free T3, free T4, ferritin, vitamin D, B12, fasting glucose, and lipids, can often be requisitioned by your family doctor or nurse practitioner under OHIP. Your ND can then interpret those results without re-ordering them.
How extended health benefit plans cover ND visits
Most extended health benefit plans through employers, unions, and individual policies include naturopathic services as a covered paramedical benefit. Coverage details vary, but the structure is usually one of these:
- Standalone naturopathic limit. An annual maximum dedicated to ND visits, commonly $300 to $1,000.
- Combined paramedical pool. A shared annual limit covering ND, massage therapy, chiropractic, physiotherapy, and similar providers.
- Per-visit cap. A maximum reimbursement per visit (for example, $40 per visit) regardless of the ND’s fee.
- Coinsurance. A percentage of the visit fee covered (for example, 80% per visit) up to the annual maximum.
The combination of these rules determines what your plan actually pays. Two plans with the same $500 annual maximum can pay out very differently depending on whether there is a per-visit cap or a coinsurance percentage.
How to confirm your coverage in five minutes
Call the number on the back of your benefits card and ask:
- Is naturopathic medicine covered?
- What is the annual maximum, and is it standalone or shared with other paramedical services?
- Is there a per-visit cap?
- Is there a coinsurance percentage?
- Is direct billing available, or do I submit receipts?
That covers everything you need to know before booking.
How submission works
After each visit, you receive a receipt with the ND’s name, registration number, the date, and the amount paid. Most insurers accept receipts submitted through their online portal or app. A small number of insurers offer direct billing, which means the clinic submits the claim and you only pay the portion not covered.
Receipts should be kept for at least six years for both insurance and CRA purposes.
Lab work and testing
Lab tests requisitioned by an ND are not covered by OHIP, and most extended health plans do not cover them either. A few plans include a small annual amount for diagnostic testing, but it is uncommon.
Two paths for lab work:
- Through your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Many of the standard tests an ND would order can be requisitioned under OHIP, including a complete blood count, ferritin, iron studies, TSH, free T3, free T4, vitamin D, B12, A1C, fasting glucose, and lipids. If you can get the bloodwork done this way, the cost to you is zero.
- Through your ND. When the test cannot be requisitioned by an MD or NP, or when timing matters, your ND can send you to LifeLabs, Dynacare, or a private lab with a paid requisition. Cost varies by test.
For details on what specific tests measure, see the lab test glossary.
Health Spending Accounts and wellness accounts
If your employer provides a Health Spending Account (HSA) or a wellness or lifestyle spending account, naturopathic visits are typically eligible:
- HSA. A pre-tax account where you submit receipts for eligible medical expenses, including ND visits and many supplements when prescribed by a regulated practitioner.
- Wellness or lifestyle account. A taxable benefit, usually with broader eligibility rules. Naturopathic visits are nearly always covered.
These accounts are often available alongside extended health coverage, and you can stack them: extended health pays first, then any remaining out-of-pocket cost can be claimed against the HSA or wellness account.
Tax credit for naturopathic care
Visits with a registered ND in Ontario qualify as an eligible medical expense under the federal Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC). If your total out-of-pocket medical expenses across the year exceed the CRA threshold, the eligible portion of your ND visits and prescribed supplements can be claimed on your tax return.
To support a claim, keep:
- All ND visit receipts.
- Receipts for prescribed supplements.
- A copy of the written treatment plan that lists the prescribed items, in case the CRA requests substantiation.
The credit is non-refundable, so it reduces tax owed rather than generating a refund on its own.
What is not typically covered
A few things are usually outside what insurance will pay for:
- Supplements (with rare HSA exceptions).
- Functional lab tests such as DUTCH hormone panels, comprehensive stool analysis, or SIBO breath tests.
- Multi-visit programs sold as a bundle, unless each visit is invoiced separately.
- Cancellation or no-show fees.
If a multi-visit program matters for coverage purposes, ask whether the clinic can issue per-visit receipts that match standard naturopathic visit codes.
Practical takeaway
For most patients, the realistic plan is:
- Use extended health benefits to cover the visit fees, up to the annual maximum.
- Use your family doctor or nurse practitioner for OHIP-covered bloodwork wherever possible.
- Use an HSA or wellness account to top up any visits that exceed the extended health limit.
- Keep receipts for the Medical Expense Tax Credit at year end.
If you want a full breakdown of what visits and tests cost before factoring in coverage, see the cost of a naturopath in Ontario. For a walk-through of what the first visit covers, see what to expect at your first naturopath visit.
Ready to book? Reserve a consultation at one of the Woodstock locations or virtually anywhere in Ontario.