Practical comparison
Private or public physiotherapy in Quebec: what to choose?
Public physiotherapy is free but rationed; a private clinic costs money but is available within days. Here are the concrete criteria to decide, without marketing.
Quick answer
Short answer: if your situation is stable and you can wait, the public network remains a valid and free option. If your pain is recent, you risk losing mobility, your private insurance covers physiotherapy, or you have a Private insurance, a private clinic saves you weeks of recovery. At Réhabital, a first appointment is usually available within a few days, at $120 for the initial assessment, with an insurance receipt.
Private clinic
Fast access, personalized follow-up
Best for
- Recent injury
- Post-op
- Private insurance
- Private insurance available
- Fast return to work or sport
Session: 30-60 min
Price: $85-$120
Private insurance receipt · SAAQ and CNESST not accepted
Public network
Free, but with a waiting list
Best for
- Stable situation
- Eligible post-hospital follow-up
- Limited budget
- No private insurance
Session: 30-45 min
Price: RAMQ-covered when eligible
No payment, no receipt needed
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | Private clinic | Public network |
|---|---|---|
| Wait before the first session | Usually a few days | Often several weeks to several months depending on region and priority |
| Direct cost | $120 (60-min evaluation), $120 (60-min follow-up), $85 (30-min follow-up) + tax | Free when you are eligible |
| Reimbursement | Private insurance only; SAAQ and CNESST not accepted at our clinic | Not applicable |
| Length and frequency of follow-up | Set with you, with no administrative cap | Number of sessions often limited by resources |
| Choice of therapist | Yes, with continuity with the same person | Assigned based on availability |
| Hours | Monday to Friday until 8 p.m. and Sunday, online booking | Business hours |
| Combinable disciplines | Osteopathy, massage therapy and naturopathy in the same clinic | Physiotherapy alone in most cases |
| Medical referral | Not required | Generally required to be eligible |
The clinical perspective
In Quebec, public physiotherapy is offered first to hospitalized patients, post-surgical cases and situations judged to be priorities. For low back pain, a shoulder tendinopathy or a sprain, the wait can be long. That delay is not neutral: an immobilized joint loses mobility, muscles weaken and compensations set in, which lengthens rehabilitation later.
A private clinic solves the access problem, not the cost problem. At Réhabital, the 60-minute initial assessment is $120 + tax and follow-ups are $85 (30 min) or $120 (60 min). Most group insurance plans in Quebec cover a significant share of those amounts, usually with an annual cap per discipline. Check two things before starting: the annual cap and whether a medical prescription is required.
A mixed strategy works well: start privately so you do not lose the first weeks, get a precise exercise program, then continue on your own with spaced check-in sessions. If your public file opens in the meantime, you arrive there already in better shape. SAAQ and CNESST files are not accepted at Réhabital; private insurance only, and we say so before your first appointment.
How to choose
Choose Private clinic
- Your pain started less than six weeks ago
- You have group insurance with physiotherapy coverage
- You have a Private insurance
- You need to return to work or sport quickly
- You want to combine physiotherapy, osteopathy and massage in one place
Choose Public network
- You are eligible following a hospitalization or surgery
- Your condition is stable and not urgent
- You have no private insurance and budget is the main constraint
Still not sure? We'll help you decide.
Book an evaluation at our Côte Saint-Luc clinic. Our clinical team will recommend the best approach for your situation.
Why Réhabital stands out
- 5.0 / 5 from 101 Google reviews — the highest-rated multidisciplinary clinic in Côte Saint-Luc
- Founded and led by Shahram Ghasemi, MD (Iran), DOMP — 30+ years of clinical experience
- 7 disciplines under one roof, with a coordinated care plan
- Prices published online, no mandatory packages
- Private-insurance receipt issued after every session
- 12 languages spoken by the team
- Open evenings until 8 p.m. and on Sundays
- Free parking at Cavendish Mall