Combined Paramedical Maximum

A combined paramedical maximum is a shared annual limit that applies collectively to several types of paramedical services under your health insurance plan. Instead of assigning a separate reimbursement maximum for each practitioner, the plan pools multiple services together under one total dollar amount. Once that combined limit is reached, no further claims are reimbursed for any of the included disciplines until the plan renews.

Paramedical services typically include treatments from physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, naturopaths, osteopaths, and psychologists. For example, your plan might provide a $700 combined annual maximum for all paramedical services. You can use that amount across any mix of providers, offering flexibility but requiring you to monitor usage carefully.

Combined maximums are common in simplified or guaranteed-issue health plans, where coverage is streamlined for ease of administration and to control overall claim costs.

Example:

If your plan offers a $700 combined paramedical maximum and you claim $400 for massage therapy and $300 for chiropractic care, you will have reached the $700 annual total and cannot claim for additional paramedical services until the next benefit year.

What to Watch For:

Check which disciplines are grouped under the combined maximum, as each insurer defines it differently. If you frequently use multiple therapists, consider a plan that provides individual maximums per practitioner instead of a shared total. Always confirm whether per-visit caps or coinsurance apply before reimbursement is calculated.