Massage therapy can help you treat your health issues if you have the right coverage. When it comes to Medicare and massage therapy, this guide can help you.
Whether for stress or recovering from injuries, plenty of people love taking advantage of massage therapy. In fact, studies show that about 15 percent of people each year get a massage.
If you get your medical coverage through Medicare, you may be wondering if you can use your plan for massage treatments.
Is it covered under your plan? What are the benefits of massage therapy?
Read on to learn these answers and more about Medicare and massage therapy.
What You Should Know About Medicare and Massage Therapy
If you’re a Medicare recipient, you should always research your treatment first to see if it’s covered.
Here’s how Medicare handles massage therapy:
1. Most Medicare Plans Classify Massage Therapy as Alternative Therapy
For starters, Medicare plans most typically won’t cover massage therapy. The reason for this is that it’s categorized as an alternative therapy, rather than a medically necessary treatment.
As such, you’ll typically have to pay for your massage therapy treatments outside of Medicare.
2. Certain Medicare Advantage Plans Cover Massage Therapy
How Medicare works is people 65 or older, or with eligible disabilities, receive coverage for hospital or medical services, per their Part A or Part B plans. Part D covers prescriptions.
All of these plans are regulated by the Federal government. Medicare Advantage allows private companies to offer coverage for these matters, and some that original Medicare won’t cover.
Certain Medicare Advantage plans are starting to cover massage therapy treatments.
According to the Better Medicare Alliance (BMA), more than 100 Medicare Advantage plans are beginning to cover alternative treatments such as massage therapy. They’re also expanding services to include non-medical needs like grocery trips and bank errands.
So if massage therapy is a priority for you, definitely look into a Medicare Advantage plan.
3. Some Patients Can Get Chiropractic Massage for Covered Medical Events
While massage therapy isn’t covered under Medicare, you still might be eligible to get certain types of massages. For instance, a patient might use chiropractic massage to help correct a misaligned spine.
Your Part B plan could cover this chiropractic massage if it’s deemed medically necessary.
4. Learn All About the Benefits of Massage Therapy
People use massage therapy for so many reasons.
Massage therapy is beneficial because it can relieve your anxiety, lower stress levels, soothe acute pain, improve blood circulation, and give you more energy and better sleep.
These tips can help you both in recovering from an injury, and just to live a healthier and more abundant life.
5. Assess the Cost of Massage Therapy
So how much does massage therapy cost? The national average cost is about $60 per hour, according to studies.
You’ll need to consult with your massage therapy personally to learn their rates and compare them.
Factor in Massage Therapy as You Figure Out Your Medical Needs
Now that you know more about Medicare and massage therapy, you can start to make the decisions that are best for you.
Reach out to an advisor that can tell you more about our resources as you shop for medical coverage.