Posted by Marlene Mayman on Oct 4, 2015
It’s open enrollment for many people’s health insurance and other health care coverage. If this includes you, now is the time to consider how you can get your massage therapy covered.
There are numerous possible ways to lessen your costs, described below.
Health InsuranceDo you take my health insurance?As with most massage businesses not affiliated with a doctor, Frederick Massage Therapy does not take insurance (process claims). But all is not lost!
Please review your current health care coverage (see below) to learn whether you can request reimbursement for massage therapy services. If you’re in luck and you have massage coverage, keep reading for info on getting a massage prescription from your doctor.
If massage isn’t covered, when you’re renewing your health insurance coverage consider other options, plans and insurance companies that may reimburse therapeutic massage.
Need a detailed receipt for your massage services to submit to your insurance company? Let me know and I will provide one with the proper CPT codes, my NPI number and other pertinent information. If you were in an accident and are working with a lawyer, I can also provide notes on your massage sessions as needed.
Does my health insurance cover massage?Unfortunately, I am not qualified to answer this question. Please check with your insurance company or HR department for your plan’s coverage and terms. Sometimes massage is only covered if it is performed as part of a physical therapy session and not by a massage therapist (go figure!), so ask about that too.
Getting a doctor’s prescription for massageIf massage is covered, the next thing you will need is a doctor’s prescription for massage therapy. This prescription must come from your health professional, as long as s/he is a medical doctor (MD), chiropractor (DC), naturopath (ND), dentist (DD, DMD, DDS) or osteopath (DO), among numerous others, including psychiatrists. As long as your health care practitioner can legally diagnose, prescribe treatments or medications, and have a “D” in their title, you’re good to go. (Your massage therapist cannot write a prescription because s/he cannot legally diagnose and is not a doctor.)
Most doctors are not pain specialists (unless that’s their practice focus), so many only know how to address pain with medication, surgery or by referring to a specialist. Your doctor may not know how massage can benefit you. Before making an appointment, look up some published research, cases studies or other credible information about how massage has helped people with a similar health issue. Sources for research: PubMed, IJTMB, Google Scholar. Also helpful to know ahead of time: where you plan to get your massage therapy. A massage clinic or massage therapist that specializes in medical massage techniques, or is affiliated with a doctor (such as a chiropractor), will look better than selecting a day spa.
If you are already seeing a doctor about your condition, call and ask for a massage prescription. If you haven’t seen a doctor, you will need to get examined and then request the prescription. Your doctor is likely to offer medication before massage, so you may have to bring massage up directly. Be ready to share your research on how massage helps conditions like yours.
Your massage prescription will need the following information:
If your insurance covers massage and your doctor won’t prescribe it, consider getting a second opinion.
If it’s helpful for your doctor:
How to Prescribe Medical Massage (A Guide for Physicians)
How to Work With a Licensed Massage Therapist (A Guide for Physicians)
Open enrollment, health insurance options and guidanceSome health insurance plans do not cover massage therapy, others do. During open enrollment, investigate your plan options and other plans available to you. Some employers or health insurance companies offer a complimentary and alternative medicine add-on to health insurance, so look into that too.
You can also speak with a health insurance broker to learn which plans with several insurance companies may be worth considering. Working with a professional can save you time and help steer you to a more optimal situation, hopefully both in coverage and cost.
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs)
Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs)
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs)Is massage therapy covered for my physical / mental health issue?The IRS states, “Medical expenses are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body. These expenses include payments for legal medical services rendered by physicians, surgeons, dentists, and other medical practitioners. They include the costs of equipment, supplies, and diagnostic devices needed for these purposes. Medical care expenses must be primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental defect or illness. They do not include expenses that are merely beneficial to general health, such as vitamins or a vacation.”
For you, this means that if you are suffering from a specific physical health issue (such as pain or movement issues, etc.) or a mental health issue (such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, PTSD, etc.), therapeutic massage may be covered under your benefits.
Wish you had access to a Health Savings Account but your employer doesn’t offer them? You can sign up for one as an individual. See Insurance and HSAs below.
How to get approval for massage therapySet up an appointment with your medical doctor and let them know that you have HSA, FSA, MSA or HRA funds that you would like to use for massage therapy for treatment/prevention of your condition.
If your physician is not sure about the benefits of massage for your condition, research massage for your condition and share the information with your doctor (see box above).
If your physician agrees to write a prescription, they will need to provide three pieces of information:
Once you have the prescription you can set up an appointment for massage. Keep the prescription in a safe place in case you need to provide documentation. Bring your HSA, FSA, MSA or HRA card with you to your appointment. (NOTE: You cannot put tips to the therapist on your benefit card.)
Open enrollment and allotmentsDuring the fourth quarter is when many people designate how much money to set aside in their HSA, FSA, MSA or HRA fund for the next year. In your financial planning, don’t forget to include the cost of your massage visits in the total amount. You also can set aside money for massage therapy for a spouse or child, if he or she has a qualifying medical condition.
It’s open enrollment for many people’s health insurance and other health care coverage. If this includes you, now is the time to consider how you can get your massage therapy covered.
There are numerous possible ways to lessen your costs, described below.
- Health Insurance
- Do you take my health insurance?
- Does my health insurance cover massage?
- Getting a doctor’s prescription for massage
- Open enrollment, health insurance options and guidance
- Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs), Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs)
- Is massage therapy covered for my physical / mental health issue?
- How to get approval for massage therapy
- Open enrollment and allotments
- Where to Get Advice
- IRS rules
- Insurance and HSAs
- Taxes and health costs
- New Client Discount
Health InsuranceDo you take my health insurance?As with most massage businesses not affiliated with a doctor, Frederick Massage Therapy does not take insurance (process claims). But all is not lost!
Please review your current health care coverage (see below) to learn whether you can request reimbursement for massage therapy services. If you’re in luck and you have massage coverage, keep reading for info on getting a massage prescription from your doctor.
If massage isn’t covered, when you’re renewing your health insurance coverage consider other options, plans and insurance companies that may reimburse therapeutic massage.
Need a detailed receipt for your massage services to submit to your insurance company? Let me know and I will provide one with the proper CPT codes, my NPI number and other pertinent information. If you were in an accident and are working with a lawyer, I can also provide notes on your massage sessions as needed.
Does my health insurance cover massage?Unfortunately, I am not qualified to answer this question. Please check with your insurance company or HR department for your plan’s coverage and terms. Sometimes massage is only covered if it is performed as part of a physical therapy session and not by a massage therapist (go figure!), so ask about that too.
Getting a doctor’s prescription for massageIf massage is covered, the next thing you will need is a doctor’s prescription for massage therapy. This prescription must come from your health professional, as long as s/he is a medical doctor (MD), chiropractor (DC), naturopath (ND), dentist (DD, DMD, DDS) or osteopath (DO), among numerous others, including psychiatrists. As long as your health care practitioner can legally diagnose, prescribe treatments or medications, and have a “D” in their title, you’re good to go. (Your massage therapist cannot write a prescription because s/he cannot legally diagnose and is not a doctor.)
Most doctors are not pain specialists (unless that’s their practice focus), so many only know how to address pain with medication, surgery or by referring to a specialist. Your doctor may not know how massage can benefit you. Before making an appointment, look up some published research, cases studies or other credible information about how massage has helped people with a similar health issue. Sources for research: PubMed, IJTMB, Google Scholar. Also helpful to know ahead of time: where you plan to get your massage therapy. A massage clinic or massage therapist that specializes in medical massage techniques, or is affiliated with a doctor (such as a chiropractor), will look better than selecting a day spa.
If you are already seeing a doctor about your condition, call and ask for a massage prescription. If you haven’t seen a doctor, you will need to get examined and then request the prescription. Your doctor is likely to offer medication before massage, so you may have to bring massage up directly. Be ready to share your research on how massage helps conditions like yours.
Your massage prescription will need the following information:
- Medical necessity: why you need massage therapy (example: to relieve back pain)
- Frequency: number of sessions per month (example: minimum of two sessions per month)
- Duration: length of treatment (example: 3,6,9,12 months)
If your insurance covers massage and your doctor won’t prescribe it, consider getting a second opinion.
If it’s helpful for your doctor:
How to Prescribe Medical Massage (A Guide for Physicians)
How to Work With a Licensed Massage Therapist (A Guide for Physicians)
Open enrollment, health insurance options and guidanceSome health insurance plans do not cover massage therapy, others do. During open enrollment, investigate your plan options and other plans available to you. Some employers or health insurance companies offer a complimentary and alternative medicine add-on to health insurance, so look into that too.
You can also speak with a health insurance broker to learn which plans with several insurance companies may be worth considering. Working with a professional can save you time and help steer you to a more optimal situation, hopefully both in coverage and cost.
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs)
Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs)
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs)Is massage therapy covered for my physical / mental health issue?The IRS states, “Medical expenses are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body. These expenses include payments for legal medical services rendered by physicians, surgeons, dentists, and other medical practitioners. They include the costs of equipment, supplies, and diagnostic devices needed for these purposes. Medical care expenses must be primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental defect or illness. They do not include expenses that are merely beneficial to general health, such as vitamins or a vacation.”
For you, this means that if you are suffering from a specific physical health issue (such as pain or movement issues, etc.) or a mental health issue (such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, PTSD, etc.), therapeutic massage may be covered under your benefits.
Wish you had access to a Health Savings Account but your employer doesn’t offer them? You can sign up for one as an individual. See Insurance and HSAs below.
How to get approval for massage therapySet up an appointment with your medical doctor and let them know that you have HSA, FSA, MSA or HRA funds that you would like to use for massage therapy for treatment/prevention of your condition.
If your physician is not sure about the benefits of massage for your condition, research massage for your condition and share the information with your doctor (see box above).
If your physician agrees to write a prescription, they will need to provide three pieces of information:
- Medical necessity: why you need massage therapy (example: to relieve back pain)
- Frequency: number of sessions per month (example: minimum of two sessions per month)
- Duration: length of treatment (example: 3,6,9,12 months)
Once you have the prescription you can set up an appointment for massage. Keep the prescription in a safe place in case you need to provide documentation. Bring your HSA, FSA, MSA or HRA card with you to your appointment. (NOTE: You cannot put tips to the therapist on your benefit card.)
Open enrollment and allotmentsDuring the fourth quarter is when many people designate how much money to set aside in their HSA, FSA, MSA or HRA fund for the next year. In your financial planning, don’t forget to include the cost of your massage visits in the total amount. You also can set aside money for massage therapy for a spouse or child, if he or she has a qualifying medical condition.