Does Your Insurance Cover Massage Therapy? Here's how to find out!

Massage therapy is more than just a relaxing experience—it’s often used as a treatment for chronic pain, stress, injury recovery, and even mental health support. But one common question we hear at Millstone Massage in Athens, GA is: “Will my insurance cover this?”

The good news? Many insurance plans do cover massage therapy—especially when it’s considered medically necessary. The not-so-good news? It can take a little legwork to find out for sure. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you determine if your health insurance covers massage therapy.

1. Check Your Insurance Policy Documents

Start by reviewing your health insurance policy online or in the paperwork you received when you enrolled. Look for terms like:

• “Alternative therapy”

• “Complementary and integrative medicine”

• “Rehabilitative services”

• “Manual therapy” or “physical medicine”

You’re trying to determine if massage therapy is mentioned and under what conditions it’s covered. Some plans include massage under physical therapy or chiropractic care.

2. Contact Your Insurance Provider

This is often the fastest and most accurate way to get an answer. Call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card and ask:

• “Is massage therapy a covered benefit on my plan?”

• “Does it require a referral or prescription?”

• “Does it need to be performed by a licensed massage therapist (LMT) or a provider in-network?”

• “Are there limits on how many sessions are covered?”

Take notes during the call—ask for the name of the representative and a reference number, just in case you need to confirm the information later.

3. Ask Your Doctor or Healthcare Provider

Many insurance plans require that massage therapy be prescribed by a physician, chiropractor, or other medical provider for it to be eligible for reimbursement. For example, if you’re dealing with back pain, arthritis, anxiety, or a sports injury, your doctor may be able to write a referral or prescription.

Make sure the referral includes:

• A diagnosis or reason for treatment

• The recommended frequency (e.g., once per week for 6 weeks)

• The type of therapy (massage or manual therapy)

4. Find Out Who Can Bill Insurance

Even if your plan covers massage, it’s not always clear how to get reimbursed. Some massage therapists can bill insurance directly, but many don’t—especially in private practice settings like ours. In that case, you can usually pay out of pocket and then submit a claim for reimbursement using a superbill (a special receipt with clinical codes).

At Millstone Massage, we’re happy to provide you with a superbill if needed. Just let us know ahead of time.

5. Don’t Forget About FSA and HSA Options

If your insurance doesn’t cover massage therapy, you might still be able to use Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Accounts (HSA). These tax-advantaged accounts allow you to pay for qualified medical expenses—including massage—when prescribed by a healthcare provider.