How to File a Medical Massage Claim

Massage therapy is available in clinics, hospitals and physical therapy offices. According to the Mayo Clinic, massage therapy is defined as the pressing, rubbing and manipulation of tendons, muscles and ligaments. Therapists use their hands, elbows and fingers to apply pressure to various soft tissues. Techniques range from light stroking to deep tissue therapy. Reported benefits include stress relief, anxiety management, pain improvement and blood pressure control. If your doctor determines medical massage therapy is beneficial for your condition, consider these important steps to ensure health insurance coverage of therapeutic massage.

Instructions

• 1

  Make an appointment with your primary care doctor or an orthopedic doctor approved by your medical insurance. The Medical Massage Practitioners of America report that a physician's order is necessary for insurance coverage, because a massage therapist is not legally allowed to diagnose a patient's condition for treatment. A doctor writes the prescription for the type of massage therapy needed, and a massage therapist performs the prescribed therapy.

• 2

  Call your health insurance company to see if pre-approval is necessary for medical massage therapy. Inform the insurance representative you have a doctor's order for massage therapy and the diagnosis for which you require treatment. Verify the number of visits you are approved for within a particular time period, and be aware that insurance companies often require pre-approval paperwork to be completed before you make a therapy appointment.

• 3

  Fax the physician's order to your health insurance company's claims department. Faxing the order ahead of time will facilitate faster processing of your pre-approval. Store the original doctor's order in a safe place, because you may need it later if the faxed copy gets lost.

• 4

  Make an appointment with a massage therapist in your health benefits network, and verify that the therapist is willing to bill your insurance company for payment. Some massage therapists require up-front payments or cash-only payments. Obtain a written agreement with the therapist, if possible, that payments will be handled through your medical insurance company.

• 5

  Provide the therapist with a copy of the doctor's order, stating the specific massage therapy prescribed for your condition. Some massage techniques are dangerous for specific diseases and conditions, so confirm that the therapist understands your doctor's order and that the order will be followed. Insurance companies only assure coverage for the pre-approved form of therapeutic massage stated on the doctor's slip.

• 6

  Report to your physician the benefits you received from massage therapy, so he can document this information in your chart. According to Unitedpolicyholders.org, this creates documented proof validating the ways massage therapy helped your specific condition. File all information related to your treatment someplace safe, and provide this information to your insurance company in the event that they deny coverage for your massage therapy services.