Health Insurance and Massage

Many people do not realize that massage therapy is often covered by their health insurance plan. Fortunately Washington State has been forward thinking on this issue for some time and Washington-based healthcare plans are required to include alternative care in their coverage.

I am a preferred provider for Premera, Regence, First Choice, United Health Care, Uniform Medical Plan, and Aetna. and as such I am familiar with their various coverages.

Step 1: Get a Diagnosis

Obviously you must have some injury or condition before you can use this benefit; however, these conditions can include minor problems such as headaches, strained muscles, spasms, etc. This makes getting a medical referral (prescription) for treatment relatively simple.

Step 2: Get a Referral

Although your plan coordinator may tell you that you do not need a medical referral for massage, this is not the case. Licensed Massage Practitioners (LMPs) are not allowed to diagnose injuries or medical conditions, as it is a violation of our scope of practice. We must rely on a doctor's diagnosis before we can treat and subsequently bill insurance for our services. I know some therapists will say otherwise, but they run the risk of having their billings rejected and then the cost of the session can fall back on you. This is easily avoided if you obtain a referral at the start of the process.

Step 3: Make Sure Your Health Insurance Plan Pays for Massage

One area of confusion I also see is with companies that are self-insured, such as Microsoft, and the coverage is coordinated through a company such as Premera Blue Cross. Self-insured entities are not required to provide alternative care coverage in Washington State. Even though they may provide for chiropractic or even acupuncture, they usually only do so on a limited basis.

Microsoft is a good example: They do not cover massage therapy in the conventional sense, but as part of their coverage agreement with Premera, your can receive a discount when you use Premera preferred providers such as myself.

Step 4: Call for an Appointment

The key here is that checking your coverage may save you a lot of money when you are dealing with a condition or injury that may respond well to massage. If you have any questions in regards to your coverage you can contact your benefits coordinator or even call me as I can help you track down the extent of your coverage fairly quickly. You pay good money for health insurance, and it's there for your benefit, why not use it?

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call me at (425) 861-7334.