Can I get reimbursed for massage?
Asked by: Dr. Violette Nicolas | Last update: June 21, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (66 votes)
What types of massages are covered by insurance?
Insurance companies often cover a variety of massage techniques, from classic stroking and compression to more advanced modalities, such as percussion manipulation, traction, and lymphatic drainage.
Can massages be a medical expense?
Medical Necessity: The IRS says medical expenses must be for alleviating or preventing a physical or mental condition. In other words, your massage therapy needs to be medically necessary—a term your doctor will have to agree on.
How to get medically necessary massage?
Get your doctor to write a referral/prescription for massage therapy. Go to a massage place that accepts your insurance, which won't be Massage Envy, but instead a more therapeutic based place, often as part of a physical therapy business (look on your insurance website).
Are massages eligible for FSA reimbursement?
To qualify, it typically requires a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) to be considered FSA-eligible. The IRS considers massage therapy as a medical expense eligible for FSA reimbursement only when it is prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional to treat or alleviate a specific medical condition or injury.
Why isn't massage therapy covered by insurance?
Can massage be reimbursed by HSA?
Your HSA can pay for massage therapy, though you'll likely need a letter of medical necessity (LMN) from your doctor. An LMN states what condition the treatment is for, how many sessions you need, and any other relevant details. An HSA may also be used on alternative or holistic treatments, such as: Massage therapy.
How to get a letter of medical necessity for massage therapy?
A Letter of Medical Necessity is an official doctor's note stating your diagnosis and their recommended treatment for your condition. In this note, your doctor will detail the health condition you're experiencing and explain why massage should be a necessary part of your management or recovery plan.
How to get a free massage?
- Swap massages with a spouse or partner. One of the best ways to get a free massage is to swap massages with a loved one. ...
- Exchange massages with a friend. ...
- Promote the benefits of a massage. ...
- Barter with a Licensed Massage Therapist. ...
- Check your health insurance coverage.
What is the difference between medical massage and wellness massage?
While medical massage therapy is more geared toward fixing a specific problem, wellness massage helps clients relax and provides stress relief, which is very therapeutic. Both are important when it comes to your health.
Can a doctor recommend a massage?
Massage therapy is sometimes recommended by health-care providers; however, numerous factors limit the full integration of massage therapy into health care, including the low priority placed on massage and other CIH therapies during medical training.
Can massage be billed to insurance?
In the United States, coverage for massage therapy is not typical. However, that's slowly changing. There are a few insurance plans that cover massage therapy. Workers' compensation and auto insurance also cover massage therapy.
What qualifies for medical expenses?
Medical expenses are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and for the purpose of 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.
Are massagers HSA eligible?
Fortunately, tools like the MedMassager Foot Massager Classic and MedMassager Body Massager Classic are approved HSA/FSA products, so they may be eligible under your plan without the need for a letter of medical necessity (LMN).
How much is insurance for a massage?
How much is massage therapist General Liability insurance? General liability insurance costs 26% of our customers between $33 to $54 per month. It can help to protect your business from financial losses related to customer injuries, accidental damage to someone's property and copyright infringement.
Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal cover massage therapy?
Blue Cross and Blue Shield offers alternative medicine for federal employees. Effective Jan. 1, 2001 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan members will have access to a national network of chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and health and wellness products at discounted prices.
How much does a massage cost?
On average, prices in the United States range from $50 to $150 per hour, with higher rates typical in urban areas and luxury spas. The cost is also affected by the therapist's experience, the type of massage, and any additional services provided.
What is a medical massage called?
It is also known as clinical massage or treatment massage. There are many massage schools and programs that teach medical massage as a technique. Though medical massage is any massage treatment used to treat specific medical conditions, there is no one technique that is medical massage (literary review).
Does massage therapy fall under healthcare?
Definition. Clinical massage therapy is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the human body for therapeutic purposes. Based in ancient traditions, massage therapy is a professional health care discipline in the United States.
Are medical massages worth it?
If you have a diagnosed medical condition or injury that requires targeted treatment, medical massage may be the better choice. If you're looking for general relief from stress and muscle tension, a therapeutic massage may be sufficient.
Can you get free massages through insurance?
Medical companies cover medical procedures and will not cover luxuries such as massage that is not prescribed by a doctor. If you do not have a medical need for massage therapy and are only seeing a massage for enjoyment, then you will not be covered by medical insurance.
How much do you tip for a $100 massage?
To keep the math simple, tipping 20% makes it easy to calculate and ensures you're on the generous end of the gratuity spectrum. For a $100 massage, a $20 tip is both generous and straightforward to figure out.
What is the most favorite body part to be massaged?
The survey results are in and the back took top position as the most favourite part of the body to be massaged followed by the shoulders. Then feet coming in at third surprisingly took preference over the neck at fourth, followed by head/face, legs, arms and hands as the least favourite.
How to get a doctor to prescribe massages?
Once you meet with your doctor about your condition or injury, be sure to ask her for a referral for massage therapy. You must have a referral in order to have your therapy covered by your insurance. Your referral is your only way of proving that medical massage therapy sessions are a medical necessity.
How do you prove medical necessity?
How is “medical necessity” determined? A doctor's attestation that a service is medically necessary is an important consideration. Your doctor or other provider may be asked to provide a “Letter of Medical Necessity” to your health plan as part of a “certification” or “utilization review” process.
Is massage a qualified medical expense?
For instance, if your doctor prescribes massages to help recover from an injury or manage a chronic condition, you may be able to include these costs in your medical expense deductions. Keep in mind that the IRS requires that these expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income before you can claim them.