What does massage therapy fall under in insurance?

Asked by: Esther Brekke  |  Last update: May 17, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (54 votes)

In these cases, massage therapy is often categorized as physical therapy or alternative care. Plan Type: Some Cigna plans may offer coverage for massage therapy as part of complementary or alternative care services, while others may not include it or may require additional riders or supplementary coverage.

How to get massage therapy covered by insurance?

Massage therapy may be covered under insurance if it is deemed medically necessary by a healthcare provider. To improve the chances of coverage, obtain a referral or prescription from your doctor specifying the medical condition being treated.

What category does massage therapy fall under?

Massage therapy generally falls under the classification of "general health," which refers to a service or procedure that can provide a boost to a person's overall health and wellness but is not considered a vital treatment to alleviate a specific medical condition.

What type of healthcare is massage therapy?

This is just a small number of allied healthcare workers, and some estimates state that up to 60% of employees in healthcare are in allied care. So, by definition, massage therapy is part of healthcare services, and massage therapists are medical professionals.

What type of insurance should a massage therapist have?

What Kinds of Insurance Are the Most Important for Licensed Massage Therapists to Have? The two main types of coverage licensed massage therapists should have are general and professional liability insurance. General liability insurance covers damages caused by your operations – think slip and falls!

Why isn't massage therapy covered by insurance?

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What is the insurance code for massage therapy?

The most common 3 codes are: 97010 Hot/Cold Packs, 97124 Massage Therapy, and 97140 Manual Therapy.

Can you practice massage without insurance?

Small business insurance is essential for massage therapists. Each state has specific massage therapist insurance requirements to operate a massage therapy business, and you should check your state's requirements when considering various insurance policies.

What field does massage therapy fall under?

Massage therapists play an important role in the field of allied health. They use touch and pressure to manipulate the soft tissues of the body to promote relaxation, relieve pain, reduce stress and promote the overall wellness of their clients.

What industry does massage therapy fall under?

In particular, we expressed support to maintain that massage therapy provided as an integrative health therapy should remain under the large umbrella of Other Health Practitioners (NAICS code 621399).

What type of service is massage therapy?

Massage therapy is the manipulation of the body's soft tissues, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments and skin, by using various degrees of pressure and movement. It is typically performed by a professional called a massage therapist and it's often used as a treatment for various medical conditions.

What is the classification of massage?

1.2: Classification of massage techniques on the basis of character of techniques. Stroking manipulations: Superficial stroking, effleurage. Pressure manipulations: Kneading, petrissage, friction. Tapotement/percussion manipulations. Vibratory manipulations.

What category does therapy fall under?

Unlike medical practitioners like NPs or MDs, therapists do not prescribe medications. This kind of care falls under the heading of “psychology,” which focuses on behavior and the mind.

What is the business classification for massage therapy?

621399 - Offices of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners.

Does massage count as a medical expense?

Massages may be tax deductible if prescribed as a treatment for musculoskeletal disorders such as tendonitis, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or fibromyalgia. If a licensed medical practitioner prescribes massage therapy to address musculoskeletal issues, it can be tax-deductible as a medical expense.

Is massage therapy covered by insurance Medicare?

Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) offers coverage for massage therapy, depending on certain conditions. However, Original Medicare does not cover massage therapy. A person enrolled in an Advantage plan that includes massage therapy will get treatment coverage under certain conditions.

Does insurance cover physical therapy?

Most health insurers, including Medicare and Medicaid, will cover all or part of the cost of physical therapy services. Private health insurers will often cover a portion of the cost for PT as well. You may have cost-sharing for PT, like meeting your insurance deductible or copays.

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.

What occupation is massage therapist?

Massage therapists work in an array of settings, such as spas and offices of other health practitioners. Some also travel to local events, clients' homes, or other sites. Part-time work is common, and work schedules may vary. Many massage therapists are self-employed.

What is the professional term for a massage therapist?

Usually, an LMT , which is a Licensed Massage Therapist. In places where a license is not required, some practitioners would be known as a CMT, or Certified Massage Therapist. The terms medical massage and therapeutic massage are used.

What industry does massage fall under?

For Massage Therapy/Massage Therapists use NAICS Business Industry Code 621399 instead (Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners).

How many massages can a therapist do in a day?

Massage therapy sessions

How many appointments you have in a day depends on your availability and scheduling preferences, but most full-time therapists will see around five clients a day with massage appointments typically lasting between 60 and 90 minutes.

What do you call a licensed massage therapist?

An LMT is a licensed massage therapist . LMTs are licensed in their state, and they complete training and examinations in order to obtain their licenses.

What states do not require a massage therapy license?

Are there any states that do not require a massage license to practice? Wyoming, Minnesota, California, Kansas and Vermont are all states that do not require an actual license in order to provide services as a massage therapist.

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.

How to get massage covered by health insurance?

How to get medical insurance to cover massage therapy
  1. Call to verify your insurance coverage for massage therapy. ...
  2. Get a prescription by clearly communicating to your doctor that you'd like massage therapy. ...
  3. Ask your doctor to prescribe massage for the most general diagnosis possible.