Claim number and booking: key points.
Getting an ICBC claim number and booking your first physiotherapy visit after a crash can happen in either order, since a GP referral is not required to start treatment.
- File the claim at icbc.com or by phone (1-800-910-4222).
- Online filing usually issues the claim number the same day.
- You can usually book physio before the number arrives, and clinics catch up the paperwork.
- No GP referral is required to start physiotherapy under Enhanced Care.
How to get your claim number.
File the claim with ICBC's online claims portal or by phone at 1-800-910-4222 (toll-free in BC). The online form takes about 10 to 15 minutes. You will need your driver's licence number, the date and approximate time of the crash, the location, and a short description of what happened.
You do not need to know who is at fault to file. You do not need a police report for most crashes, and ICBC will request one if it is needed. Filing does not, on its own, affect your premiums; ICBC's at-fault assessment happens separately.
The claim number is the long alphanumeric string ICBC issues when the claim is registered. Save it somewhere you will not lose it.
Booking the first physiotherapy visit.
Once you have the claim number, the booking flow is short. Send it to the clinic with your name, date of birth, and the date of the crash. The clinic confirms coverage with ICBC, typically a quick check rather than a multi-day approval, and then schedules the assessment.
At Medstar, you can book online through our Jane App page or by phone at (604) 988-5411. If you submit the claim through the form on the ICBC hub, we call you back within two business hours.
Have or do not have a claim number: what to do.
I have the claim number
- Send it to the clinic.
- Confirm name, DOB, and crash date.
- Book your first session within 7 days.
- $0 out of pocket for pre-approved visits.
I do not have the claim number yet
- File the claim at icbc.com.
- Book the first physio appointment anyway.
- Bring the claim number to session two.
- The clinic catches up the billing once ICBC confirms, usually with no impact on you.
What we ask for at intake.
Intake is the start of your file. We collect what we need to bill ICBC, document your starting point clinically, and plan the first few weeks. Every field has a purpose.
- Identifiers: legal name, date of birth, BC Services Card, contact details.
- The ICBC claim number.
- The date of the crash and a brief description of the mechanism.
- A symptom timeline: what hurt at the roadside, what changed in the first 72 hours.
- Any imaging, ER discharge, or GP notes you already have.
- Extended health details, in case we end up co-funding after the 12-week window.
Claim numbers and booking: common questions.
Can I start physio before my claim number is issued?
Often, yes. Most clinics will pencil you in for an initial assessment and bring you on board provisionally while ICBC finalises the claim. Bring the claim number to the second visit if it has not arrived by then, and the clinic will catch up the billing once ICBC confirms your coverage.
How long does ICBC take to issue a claim number?+
If you file online and the reporting is straightforward, the claim number is typically issued the same day. Phone filing can take a little longer at peak times. Either way, you can usually still book your first physiotherapy visit while you wait for the number to arrive.
Do I have to use the claim number with one clinic only?+
No. You can use the same claim number across multiple registered ICBC providers, for example physiotherapy at one clinic and registered massage therapy at another, within your pre-approved allotments. Each provider confirms your coverage with ICBC separately before billing for your visits, so there is no extra paperwork on your side.
What information does the clinic need from me upfront?+
Your full legal name, date of birth, contact details, ICBC claim number, the date of the crash, and a one-line description of what happened and what hurts. We confirm coverage with ICBC before billing the first visit, so there is nothing to sort out on your end once intake is complete.
How do I file an ICBC claim to get a claim number?+
File the claim at ICBC's online claims portal or by phone at 1-800-910-4222, toll-free in BC. The online form takes about 10 to 15 minutes. You will need your driver's licence number, the date and approximate time of the crash, the location, and a short description of what happened.
Do I need to know who is at fault before I file an ICBC claim?+
No. You do not need to know who is at fault to file an ICBC claim, and you do not need a police report for most crashes, since ICBC will request one if it is needed. Filing does not, on its own, affect your premiums. ICBC's at-fault assessment happens separately from the claim itself.
What happens after I send my claim number to the clinic?+
Once you have the claim number, send it to the clinic with your name, date of birth, and the date of the crash. The clinic confirms coverage with ICBC, typically a quick check rather than a multi-day approval, and then schedules your assessment. There is nothing further you need to arrange yourself.
What if I don't have extended health coverage after the 12-week ICBC window?+
The clinic asks for your extended health details at intake in case co-funding is needed after the 12-week ICBC window. If you do not have extended health coverage, this is still collected as part of your file so your clinician can plan ahead for what happens once the ICBC-funded window ends.
Related reading
Got a claim number?
Send it over. We'll confirm coverage with ICBC and book you in this week.
Reviewed by Sanaz Davarian, PT, MSc, Owner & Director, Registered Physiotherapist, College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC). ICBC-authorized direct billing provider.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. ICBC coverage details, treatment allotments, and claim rules change, so confirm the current terms with ICBC or a legal adviser before relying on them. Treatment suitability is determined case-by-case during clinical assessment. Physiotherapy at Medstar Sport Physio & Health is provided by physiotherapists registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC).