Does Insurance Cover Massage?

Short answer. Many extended health plans cover registered massage therapy, but every plan is different. Your plan decides what is covered, how much, and how often. Check with your insurer before you book.

What is direct billing?

With direct billing, I send the claim to your insurer for you. You pay only the part your plan does not cover, instead of paying the full fee and claiming it back yourself.

Which insurers do you direct bill?

I direct bill most major Canadian benefit providers, including:

Alberta Blue Cross, Beneva, UV Insurance, BPA – Benefit Plan Administrators, Canada Life, Canada Life – PSHCP, CCWU – Canadian Construction Workers Union, Chambers of Commerce, CINUP, Claimsecure, Coughlin & Associates Ltd., Cowan, D.A. Townley, Desjardins, Equitable Life of Canada, First Canadian, GMS Carrier 49, GMS Carrier 50, GreenShield Canada, Group Health, Group Source, Industrial Alliance (iA Financial Group), Johnson, Johnston Group, LiUna Local 183, LiUna Local 506, Manion, Manulife, Maximum Benefit, Medavie Blue Cross (Veterans Affairs Canada), People Corporation, RWAM Insurance Administrators, Sun Life, The Co-operators, Union Benefits and Telus Health.

Claims can also go through Telus Health, Provider Connect and the ClaimsXchange.

Don't see your insurer? Contact me and I will tell you if I can bill them.

How do I check my coverage?

Call the number on your benefits card, or look in your online benefits account. Ask:

• Is registered massage therapy covered?
• How much is covered per visit and per year?
• Does my plan limit the length of a session?
• Do I need a referral? (Many plans do not.)
• When does my yearly maximum reset?

I can't see how much coverage you have left. Your insurer can.

What if my claim is declined or only partly paid?

This usually happens for one of three reasons:

• You have used your yearly maximum. Direct billing stops until your benefits reset, usually at the start of the calendar year.
• Your plan pays only part of the fee. Some plans cover up to a dollar amount or a percentage of the session cost. This differs between insurers.
• You have more than one plan. For example, you may also be covered under a partner's plan. I can direct bill only your main insurer. You submit the remaining balance to your second insurer yourself.

Your insurer can confirm exactly what you are entitled to.

You pay any remaining balance with the credit card on file or at the clinic by debit, Visa, Mastercard or American Express. If you prefer not to keep a card on file, you pay the full fee when you book your next session.

What if I don't have coverage?

You can still book. After each treatment you get a digital receipt by email.

Ready to book?

See services and rates.