Osteopathy Insurance Coverage

Not all Canadians know that they are eligible to purchase extended health plans directly from insurers (not from work) that cover medications, glasses, dental work and osteopathic treatments among many other benefits. Depending on the insurer and policy, monthly payment range from $20 to $150.

National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) graduates who practice in Canada should have print outs ready for patients without insurance coverage that would give them information about different insurers, different plans and insurance contact information.

It is a win-win situation, both for the patient as well as the manual osteopath. Almost 99% of insurers in Canada cover the cost of treatments provided by our graduates who are members of the Society of Osteopaths of Canada, Ontario Osteopathic & Alternative Medicine Association, National Manual Osteopathic Society, and other associations.

When your patients purchase private health insurance they will not have to pay out of pocket for your treatments. It is a benefit for them as well as you.

Online vs On Campus Degrees

Why online education is better?

A recent research on hands on skill learning indicates that in the long term online students learn better techniques than those enrolled in a campus based program.

The research done recently in USA compared two sets of students learning a manual skill, one set in a class and another from an online video.

The results indicated that in the same day, after watching the skill being taught online vs live in the classroom, those classroom students learned the skill better. However after one week, the online students performed the skill clearly better than the campus students.

The conclusion the researchers made is that the campus based students learn from an instructor and then rely on memory to perform the skill task every day. While the online students get to watch the instructor everyday and this makes their skill set closer to what the instructor teaches.

So in the short term (the same day) campus based education is better. However in the long term online students perform better techniques.

 

$50,000 in Loans Available to NUMSS Graduates in Canada

The Canadian graduates of the manual osteopathy programs offered by the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMSS) are eligible to apply for up to 50,000 in loan money from Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) if they are residents of the province their osteopathy clinic is located.

The graduates must be the clinic owner, and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. The osteopathy clinic must have been in operation for two years or longer. Clinics less than two years old are not eligible to apply. The loan must be repaid within 4 years and the current interest rate is 5.7%. The application process is completely online, eliminating any need for personal visits and meetings. 

 

 

$15,000 in Loans Available to NUMSS Graduates

National University of Medical Sciences (Spain) graduates of the bachelor of science in osteopathy & the doctor of osteopathy programs, 18 to 34 years old who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply for business development loans of up to $15,000 (at prime posted by CIBC plus 3% interest rate) under the Futurpreneur Canada program of the Canadian government.

You must have already been graduated as a manual osteopath and have already opened your own private osteopathy clinic. Your clinic must be less than one year old and you have to agree to work with a mentor for up to 2 years and prepare a business plan.

$60,000 in Grants Available to NUMSS Graduates

Ontario National University of Medical Sciences graduates who are between 18 and 29 years old are eligible to apply for up to $60,000 in non-payable grant, and those who are 30 years old and over are eligible to apply for up to $30,000 under the Smart Start Seed Fund from the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE).

The money must go to start up costs of your osteopathy clinic and is non-payable (this is a grant, not a loan).

Each grant comes with its own criteria and rules, but they all require that a start-up osteopathy clinic be endorsed and that the cash investment be matched by a third, non-government source (such as the manual osteopath).

Your clinic must be located in Ontario, and be incorporated. You must be the director or majority shareholder of your osteopathic clinic. The clinic must be less than 3 years old and you must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.

Proper Usage of the DO Designation in Ontario (Canada)

Attention NUMSS DO Students:

Great news!

We just received clarification from the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario in regards to using the title of "DO". This is what you are allowed to write on your business card, flyers, website, Facebook, etc:

John Smith, DO (Spain)

Osteopathic Manual Practitioner

If you do not treat patients (for example if you are a teacher or clinic manager), you can use:

Dr John Smith, DO

If you treat patients, you cannot call yourself a doctor or use the designation “Dr”. However everyone else can call you a doctor or use “Dr” before your name (as long as they are not your employees).

This applies only to those students practicing in Ontario. In most countries you are allowed to use Dr John Smith, DO.