What types of services are not covered by provincial health plans, such as massage therapy and physiotherapy?

The response indicating that optional services are not covered by provincial health plans is accurate. Provincial health plans in Canada provide coverage primarily for medically necessary services that directly address health issues and are deemed necessary for maintaining or improving health. Services such as massage therapy and physiotherapy may fall under ancillary or optional categories, which often are not funded by these health plans.

Optional services typically include treatments and therapies that are not critical to health management or recovery, and patients often obtain these services on a private-pay basis. Therefore, the classification of these services as "optional" underscores that they do not align with the core offerings of medically necessary healthcare that provincial programs are designed to cover. This distinction helps individuals understand what is typically included in their healthcare coverage versus what might require out-of-pocket expenses.