Your Insurance May Cover Your Next Massage

Everyone deserves to live life to the fullest without the disruption of chronic or injury-related pain.

Of course, you already know our recommended solution.

Massage therapy is a magical experience. Okay, well, decades of research actually shows the benefits are more therapeutic, but it can certainly feel magical. Especially when injury-related muscular stress and tension are transformed into lasting pain relief.

So many of our clients who suffer from medical conditions and injuries are surprised at the degree of relief they experience after getting a massage. However, while massage can be vital in many recovery and treatment plans, we understand that regular sessions can become a financial strain without the assistance of medical coverage.

Yep, you read that correctly: some health insurance providers and plans will cover therapeutic massages when deemed medically necessary! You can check your eligibility for medical massage coverage in 4 simple steps:

1. Check your insurance policy

Before getting a physician referral for a massage, look into whether your policy states that a referral will result in coverage. If so, note if there are other coverage limitations that apply, or any exclusions in getting a medical massage covered.

2. Talk to your primary care doctor

Schedule an appointment with the physician or medical professional listed in your insurance policy document. Discuss your medical condition with your doctor, who will make the diagnosis and determine whether a referral would be beneficial. If so, ask them to write you a prescription for a medical massage.

When discussing your medical condition, ask for a comprehensive treatment plan, which may help validate a medical massage in a greater context. Also ask about other treatments that would supplement a medical massage and accommodate your rehabilitation or recovery.

3. Get a referral and schedule your appointment

Ask your physician's office to send a referral directly to your insurance company, and keep that document on file for yourself. Remember to ask about the recommended frequency of getting a medical massage.

Then, book your 60- or 90-minute massage session(s) at Massage Greenpoint or Massage Williamsburg, like you would any other massage. All of our LMTs are pain relief specialists and perform medical massages, or you can request a specific therapist (read about our LMTs and their specialties here).

4. Massage time! (Reminder: get an insurance-friendly receipt)

Finally, the good stuff! Prior to your massage, your LMT will discuss your medical condition with you and what you are looking to get out of the massage. By the way, our LMTs tailor massages to each client’s needs. No cookie-cutter massages here!

After your massage, let us know that you will need an insurance-friendly receipt with insurance billing codes, which we can print or email for your records. This is the documentation you will need to provide your insurance company.

Although determining your medical massage eligibility is a multi-step process, we hope this guide helped simplify it. You’re one step closer to being pain-free. :)