Insurance Coverage
Is my visit to a RMT covered by insurance?
You may have extended health benefits through a workplace group insurance plan that covers massage therapy provided by an RMT. Coverage varies as does the requirement of a physician’s referral. Please check with your plan for massage therapy coverage and plan details.
Some RMTs will direct bill your extended health plan. Ask your RMT to see if direct billing is available and what their policy is.
Most major insurance benefit programs will only approve massage therapy which is provided by an RMT who:
- is a member in good standing with a recognized professional association like MTAM.
- follows their association’s Standards of Practice which enable a treatment to be eligible for insurance reimbursement.
This assures the insurers and the companies who provide your benefits that your massage therapy care is being provided by someone who has met the minimum competencies and is held to a high standard of care.
For a massage therapy treatment to be eligible for reimbursement it must include a health history/ongoing update, assessment, treatment that is within the RMT’s scope of practice and, as appropriate, remedial exercise and/or home care recommendations.
In most cases, a referral is not required to see a massage therapist. However, certain healthcare plans or insurance providers may have specific requirements, so it’s best to check with your insurance company to determine if a referral or prescription is needed for insurance coverage purposes.
If a prescription is required by your insurance plan, it must be issued before or on the date of the massage.
For some Manitobans the prescription requirement may create a barrier to accessing massage therapy care. MTAM has created an advocacy letter that you can personalize and share with your employer to request the removal of the prescription requirement. Learn more.
If you prefer, there is also a version of the letter from MTAM.
Insurance Advocacy Letter Template
Insurance Advocacy Letter from MTAM
Contact MTAM if you have any questions.
RMTs follow best practices as outlined by the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association. The following information must be on a massage therapy receipt for you to be able to submit it for insurance reimbursement:
- Receipt number and date of issue
- Date of service
- Provider name, address, and phone number
- Provider professional identification, designation or credentials
- Patient name
- Type of service provided
- Length of treatment
- Cost of service
- Amount paid by patient
- Amount paid by insurance (if applicable)
- Any applicable taxes
- Method of payment
Receipts should accurately reflect the purchase of a gift card/certificate. Insurance does not cover gift card/certificate purchases.
Insurance does not cover missed or canceled appointments.
Check with your RMT regarding their policy for missed appointment charges.