Massage Therapy: Does Medicare Cover It? (2024)

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Massage therapy is a treatment that manipulates the soft tissues in your body. It’s often used for relaxation but can also be beneficial for some health conditions.

For example, it can:

Medicare considers massage therapy an “alternative treatment,” so it’s not deemed medically necessary. That’s why Original Medicare (parts A and B) won’t pay for massage therapy sessions.

In this article, we’ll review when massage therapy could be paid for by a Medicare plan and what you’ll need to do to get the cost covered.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that runs Medicare, has classified massage therapy as an “alternative and complementary medicine.” As such, Medicare generally doesn’t pay for massages by themselves.

If you have Original Medicare, you’ll be responsible for 100% of the costs of massage therapy out of pocket. Typical massage therapy sessions cost about $60 per hour. Costs vary by region, massage type, and gratuity.

The one exception to this rule is if the massage is to be administered as part of the treatment plan of another covered service, such as occupational therapy. Original Medicare will then pay for the therapy overall, and this may include massage.

Does Part C (Medicare Advantage) cover massage therapy?

While Original Medicare doesn’t cover massage therapy as a service by itself, some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans may.

Medicare Advantage plans are private insurance plans. They’re approved by Medicare, and they cover everything original Medicare does. However, these plans often extend coverage to other areas of treatment, including vision and dental care.

As of 2019, therapeutic massage is covered as a supplemental benefit under some Medicare Advantage plans. According to CMS, about 270 Medicare Advantage plans offer massage coverage, covering nearly 1.5 million enrollees.

For Medicare Advantage to cover massage therapy, you’ll need to:

Your Medicare Advantage plan may not cover 100% of the costs of your massage therapy. You may still owe a copayment or deductible.

What’s more, Medicare Advantage plans with these additional areas of coverage often cost more than more limited plans. However, those higher plan costs may be offset by the costs they cover for additional benefits.

If you think you’ll need insurance coverage for massage therapy, search for a Medicare Part C plan that offers this benefit. Medicare offers an online tool to help you see what your coverage options are and purchase a plan that’s right for you.

What about Medigap?

Medigap, or Medicare supplement insurance, is a plan that pays the cost of deductibles and copayments from original Medicare.

Medigap plans pay for costs from Original Medicare only. Since Original Medicare doesn’t pay for massage therapy, Medigap plans won’t pay for that service either, except in the specific exception cases.

In addition, Medigap may pay for any leftover expenses from other covered therapies, such as chiropractic treatments and physical therapy.

While Medicare doesn’t cover massage therapy, Part B will cover other therapeutic treatments that may use massage as part of their treatment plans. Let’s take a look at what types of therapy are covered, costs, and eligibility rules.

A massage may be covered by Original Medicare as part of another therapy service in certain cases.

After you’ve met your Part B deductible, Medicare Part B will cover 80% of the costs of these services. You’ll pay the remaining 20% out of pocket or use your Medigap plan to cover them.

A Medicare-approved physician will have to refer you to a physical therapist or specialist who can treat you with this type of therapy. A doctor’s order or a prescription may be needed.

This may include:

Medicare Advantage must also offer the same coverage, though it cannot specifically mention that it covers massage therapy in its description of its coverage.

The service must be referred to by the broader category and may include a variety of treatments, one of which might be managed.

Original Medicare (parts A and B) doesn’t cover massage therapy, but it can cover other therapies like physical therapy and acupuncture, which may include massage as part of the treatment plan.

If you use massage therapy without Medicare coverage, you’ll be responsible for 100% of the costs.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) may offer some coverage for massage therapy. You can seek out a Medicare Advantage plan that covers massage therapy. It may be more expensive than other Part C plans, but the additional coverage may offset your out-of-pocket costs.