Getting Your Health Plan to Cover Your Massage Therapy Needs

Some people in Lutz may think that getting a massage is too much of a luxury. True, some massage spa treatments can get expensive, but did you know your health plan can cover regular massage therapy treatments? Take this advice from one established massage spa that has been providing service to Tampa, Lutz, Carrollwood, and Wesley Chapel for many years.



With today's economy, it's helpful to know that there are perks available to you, with the help of a well-designed health plan. All you need to do is to familiarize yourself with how these accounts work so you can use it to your advantage. This is especially useful to people who need massage therapy as part of their medical treatment needs.



Since massage has been considered an effective complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatment by doctors around the US, one could say that it can be categorized under a person's medical expenses. If you have a health plan like Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Savings Account (FSA), then it is possible for you to have massage treatments covered by your account. With an FSA, money is taken from your paycheck before taxes (you set the amount) and put into an account. You can then use that money to pay for medical expenses throughout the year. With an HSA, traditionally money may be taken from your paycheck before taxes or you can open up an individual HSA account and contribute money on your own. You can then use the stored money for any treatment like Lasik eye surgery or year round deep tissue massage treatment for chronic pain.



For instance, a pregnant woman, who often experiences cramps and anxiety from the pregnancy, can be prescribed to get a pregnancy massage twice a month after the first trimester. Studies on pregnancy have consistently shown the efficacy of regular prenatal massage in reducing common pregnancy discomforts like cramps, nausea, headaches, and anxiety. Dr. Amy Neilsen, a Lutz pediatrician, has prescribed regular pregnancy massage to her patients to help them during childbirth.



Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome have also been known to seek the help of massage therapists to alleviate muscle pain and stiffness. Treatments like deep tissue massage and acupressure target the deep layer of muscles that are usually clogged with lactic acid and toxins. Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, the massage therapist often uses direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles. The strokes used in deep tissue massage and acupressure are the most suitable techniques for this type of condition.



Injuries are commonly covered by health plans so for injuries requiring massage as a supplemental treatment, then it is very much possible to have your FHA or HSA account cover it for a year. Sports massage is a common treatment given to athletes for either avoiding injuries or for reducing symptoms caused by an injury. Many doctors have recommended sports massage for reducing the chances of muscle injuries among athletes and this should be a qualified medical expense for your health plan.



The important this to remember about these health plan accounts is that you have to show that the massage you're getting is for medical treatments. A prescription is required from a medical practitioner in order to utilize the pre-tax dollars toward massage therapy. The prescription needs to state the following: (1) length of treatment; (2) duration (minimum of one or more sessions per month); and (3) reason for prescription.



Once you've arranged all the papers, then you can set an appointment with your favourite massage clinic in Tampa, Lutz, Carrollwood, or Wesley Chapel.





Massage Envy Lutz

17673 N Dale Mabry Hwy

Tampa, FL 33548

Co Main: 813-868-5400

Bus Fax: 813-868-5401

kimberly.kitchen@massageenvy.com

Web Page: http://www.massageenvylutz.com