Besides getting a massage for general relaxation, massage therapy can help alleviate many health conditions. Massage therapy decreases pain in conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica and whiplash. It helps treat chronic diseases such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, and you can get emotional benefits from massage if you have anxiety, depression or anger. Massage therapy costs an average of $60 an hour, as of 2009 figures. This can get expensive if you have a condition that requires you to have regular massage therapy. In some cases, insurance will cover massage therapy.

Get a doctor’s prescription. If you have a prescription from your doctor, you can probably get health insurance to pay for your massage therapy.

Go to a massage therapist in a licensed health care office. You may be able to get insurance benefits if you go to a massage therapist who works for a doctor, physical therapist, occupational therapist, osteopath or chiropractor.

Check with your auto insurance provider. If prescribed by a health care professional, your auto insurance may cover your massage therapy if you need massage as a result of an auto accident.

Check your workman’s compensation. You may get workman’s compensation to cover massage therapy if you were hurt on the job and need massage therapy to help with your injury.

Set up a health savings account. This savings account combines with a health insurance plan, allowing you to make your own decisions on how you spend your health care dollars.

Check with your employer to see which benefits they included in their employee health plan. Many companies choose massage therapy as part of the benefit package they offer.

Tip

  • Check to see if you have a massage school in your area. You can get a massage from students for a much lower fee.

Tip

  • If you were recently injured on the job or in an auto accident, you may need to wait before getting massage therapy. You should not get a massage if you have a fever, were in a recent accident, are dizzy or nauseous or have bruises, wounds, rashes or sunburn.

References

Writer Bio

Laura Agadoni has been writing professionally since 1983. Her feature stories on area businesses, human interest and health and fitness appear in her local newspaper. She has also written and edited for a grassroots outreach effort and has been published in "Clean Eating" magazine and in "Dimensions" magazine, a CUNA Mutual publication. Agadoni has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from California State University-Fullerton.

SHARE