About Massage Therapy

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.

Why is some massage accepted by my insurance health benefits and some not?

Most major insurance benefit programs will only approve massage therapy provided by a Registered Massage Therapist who has graduated a full program to allow the treatment to be billed under the benefit plan because it increases the effective health benefits AND reduces the injury risks when a minimum standard of education has been achieved by the practitioner.

This assures the insurers and the companies who provide your benefits that your health care is being managed by someone with minimum competencies and who 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.

Referrals and Prescriptions

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 or healthcare provider 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.

If you prefer, there is also a version of the letter from MTAM/Your RMT.

Insurance Advocacy Letters

Contact MTAM if you have any questions.

Proper Receipt Practices

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 is 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 for Gift Certificates

Missed Appointments and Insurance