Get the biggest bang from your insurance bucks.

A Flexible Spending Account or FSA is a plan that makes it possible for you to set aside money from your paychecks to cover health-related expenses. The money is deducted before taxes. In some cases, your employer may also make contributions to your account, giving you even more funds for your medical expenses. Talk to your company's human resources department can give you more information about the FSA plans that may be available to you.

An Health Savings Account, or HSA, is a tax-exempt savings account that can be used to pay for certain medical expenses when paired with a qualified high-deductible health plan. Funds that are deposited to this account are not taxed and neither are withdrawals for qualified expenses. To use an HSA you need to be enrolled in a qualified high-deductible health plan. Not all high deductible health plans are qualified so it’s important to consult with your health care provider to review your options.

In many cases, a massage will be covered by your insurance plan, whether you use an HSA or FSA. Follow these steps to make sure you’re qualified.

Before you do anything else, reach out to your HR department or your medical insurance carrier and ask if massage therapy is considered a covered treatment. In some situations, an insurance policy won’t cover massages, even if you get a prescription from a doctor.

That said, at Alternative Healing Solutions we’ve found that the majority of customers who have an FSA or HSA had no trouble covering their massages.

Once you’ve gotten the go-ahead from your insurance carrier, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician. Pro tip for this step of the process: Don’t start by just saying you want a massage. You’ll need to first explain your specific symptoms.

There are a wide variety of mental and physical conditions that could qualify for a massage. Stress-related symptoms, circulation issues caused by diabetes or hypertension, sciatica, arthritis, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression and chronic back pain are all examples that could qualify for massage therapy.

Preparation is key to this discussion. Don’t be afraid to bring case studies of people who’ve alleviated similar symptoms through the power of massage therapy. You could also suggest specific massage therapy options, which can help you illustrate the legitimacy of this type of care.

Once you and your doctor have talked it over, you’ll need them to write a Letter of Medical Necessity for a massage. In your insurance’s eyes, this acts as proof that you actually need an HSA or FSA massage.

Your Letter of Medical Necessity will need to include the following:

• A reason you need massage therapy, such as a medical condition or injury.
• The number of sessions you’ll require each month. Do you need a massage every month? Or once every 1-2 weeks? For regular massages, you should consider getting a massage membership to lower the cost of each session.
• The duration of the treatment. How long are you going to need this treatment? Should they be 60-minute, 75-minute or 90-minute massages? Your doctor will be able to guide you in the right direction on this one. You can also change the length, time of day, and cadence as needed.
• 
  

Getting a Letter of Medical Necessity is easier than it sounds, so there’s no need to stress. Healthcare providers often write Letter of Medical Necessity for things like massage or acupuncture without requiring an in-person doctor visit. Your Letter of Medical Necessity can practically be as on-demand as your massage.

Once you have your Letter of Medical Necessity , you’ll need to book an appointment with us, you’ll just need to have your HSA or FSA debit card attached to the TrueMed account here. Put these dollars to work for you!

Since the funds on your FSA plan expire at the end of the year, make sure you get the most of your benefits before time runs out. If you’re interested in getting an FSA massage, schedule a time to meet with a primary physician before the year is up. This way, you’ll be able to get the biggest bang from your insurance bucks.

Not all insurance companies covers massage therapy, so it’s not guaranteed that your insurance will reimburse you.  

Be sure to ask your HR department or insurance carrier to find out whether massage therapy is a coverable service under your specific insurance and plan.

Payment is due day of service. Insurance payments will be forwarded to you from your insurance carrier for reimbursement. From past experience insurance reimbursement is much faster when being paid out to client then practitioner. Thanks for understanding.

If it is, you may want to check if massage is coverable by a massage therapist. Some plans require that massage be performed by a physical therapist.

In some cases of an auto accident and worker’s comp, it may also be necessary to be in regular contact with a case manager regarding your services as they may be assigned to oversee the care of their insured.

At present Medicare does not pay for massage treatments, but in general, there are three main sources of insurance billing for massage therapy, these may vary from state to state:

• Major medical plans (Blue Cross, Blue Shield, United, Aetna, Cigna, etc.)
• Personal Injury (PIP)
• Workers Compensation Insurance (Workers Comp)