The Personal Injury Protection Plan (PIPP) reimburses medical expenses incurred as the result of being in a collision. It also reimburses you for certain personal expenses resulting from an accident, including travel costs associated with medical treatment. These expenses are reimbursed after a claim has been filed with us.
We pay medical practitioners, dentists and other health care providers directly in most cases. The amount covered is set in a fee schedule, established in consultation with the professional organization of the health care provider.
PIPP pays for medical treatment that contributes to your recovery and rehabilitation. It doesn’t pay for treatment that has no measurable benefit to you, and it doesn’t pay for treatment unrelated to your injuries. You’re expected to work toward your recovery and to participate fully in the rehabilitation program that your health care team believes will help you.
In principle, PIPP covers medical treatment expenses for as long as they’re necessary. However, costs won’t be covered indefinitely when a treatment shows no signs of helping you. At some point, we may ask you to consult another medical practitioner and try a different type of treatment.
If you use your own car or a family member or friend drives you to your medical appointments or treatment, car travel expenses are reimbursed. Please check with your case manager for the rate.
Depending on your situation, PIPP may also reimburse you for parking, public transportation or taxi and passenger vehicle for hire costs to attend medical treatment. Taxi and passenger vehicle-for-hire costs are only covered if you receive pre-approval from your case manager.
Include legible copies of your original receipts when submitting a claim for medical and personal expenses. Do not include the original receipts as they cannot be returned.
Medical expenses
Manitoba Health provides primary health care coverage when you’re injured in a collision. When you need additional treatment to fully recover, PIPP extends the health care safety net, paying for medically required treatment by a medical practitioner or prescribed by a physician and not paid for by any government health care program.
PIPP covers care by a dentist, optometrist, chiropractor, physiotherapist, registered psychologist, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or athletic therapist.
Some treatments are only covered when performed by certain health care professionals. For example, PIPP covers acupuncture only when it’s done by an accredited:
- medical doctor
- physiotherapist
- athletic therapist
- chiropractor
- dentist
Massage therapy is only covered when done by a physician, chiropractor, nurse practitioner, physiotherapist or athletic therapist.
Most physiotherapists, athletic therapists and chiropractors bill Manitoba Public Insurance directly for collision-related treatments. This means there is no direct cost to you. PIPP covers these treatments provided they’re medically necessary because of your injuries from the collision.
We must authorize dental treatment before treatment begins, except for emergency dental work just after the accident.
Your case manager can confirm if a specific treatment is covered. If in doubt, please check with us before starting treatment.
Claiming your expenses
If your claim is in Winnipeg, you will receive forms in the mail or during a meeting with your case manager shortly after reporting your claim.
Complete the forms and return them to us with legible copies of receipts for your expenses.
Once we’ve received the proper documentation from you, we will mail you a reimbursement cheque for your expenses. The cheque will usually arrive within one week.
If your claim is being handled at one of our centres outside of Winnipeg, your case manager will ensure you get the forms you need for any related expenses. Your case manager will also help guide you through the process.
Recovering from whiplash injuries
Although it may take some time, most people fully recover from whiplash.
Together with chiropractors, physiotherapists and athletic therapists, we’ve developed guidelines for treating whiplash. At the start of any treatment, ask your health care provider how these guidelines apply to you.
We cover whiplash treatment from the following providers:
- medical doctor
- chiropractor
- physiotherapist
- athletic therapist
- nurse practitioner
Note: You do not need a referral from your doctor to see a chiropractor, physiotherapist or athletic therapist.
Your health care provider will outline the treatment that is best for you. Generally, improvement from a whiplash injury should come quickly. If you think you’re not improving quickly enough, discuss this with your health care provider.
Medicines and medical supplies
PIPP covers the costs of over-the-counter and prescription medicines and medical supplies required because of injuries sustained in a collision, such as bandages, ointments and dressings.
We also cover the costs of purchasing, renting, repairing, replacing, fitting or adjusting devices that are medically required and prescribed because of injuries sustained in an accident. Devices covered include eyeglasses, hearing aids, back supports, special footwear, crutches and artificial limbs.
If the device wears out from normal use, we’ll pay for its repair or replacement. However, repair or replacement due to neglect, misuse or willful damage is not covered.
PIPP also covers the cost of repairing, replacing or adjusting a device that you had before the accident and that was damaged or lost in the accident or that no longer meets your needs because of injuries sustained in the accident. This is a one-time replacement coverage.
Ambulance services
PIPP pays the costs of transporting you by ambulance from the scene of an accident to the hospital.
We also pay for ambulance services because of injuries in the accident when:
- It’s medically necessary to transfer you from one hospital to another.
- The physician responsible for your treatment orders the ambulance service so that you can receive necessary treatment.
- An emergency medical issue arises, requiring urgent transportation either by ground or air ambulance.
Travel expenses
PIPP covers the costs of travel to and from medical appointments, as well as treatments that are necessary because of injuries sustained in an accident.
We reimburse:
- Travel – at the rate set by the Corporation – when you drive your vehicle, or a friend or family member drives you, to a medical appointment. Please refer to the PIPP Benefits outline for the current reimbursement rate.
- Parking costs when you use a private vehicle to travel to a medical appointment.
- Public transportation costs.
- Taxi or passenger vehicle-for-hire costs if you can’t drive yourself and public transportation isn’t available or appropriate. You must receive pre-approval from your case manager to be eligible for this reimbursement.
- Travel and accommodation costs for someone to accompany you to medical appointments or treatment if your age or your mental or physical condition prevents you from going alone.
You can choose where you want to receive medical care. However, PIPP limits coverage for travel expenses to a medical appointment or treatment to a maximum of 100 kilometres each way when similar care is available closer to your home.