Massage Therapy Reimbursement: HSA/FSA
Has your doctor recommended massage therapy as a part of your treatment plan? Have you wondered if massage might improve your condition? You could be eligible to use your Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account to pay for massage therapy!
Massage therapy is regarded as less of a luxury item. Instead, it now considered a beneficial activity for overall health and wellness. Some companies even offer massage to employees as a perk of working there. These employers know it lessens stress and anxiety, thus making their employees more productive in the long run.
According to a survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association, 88% of consumers regard massage therapy as “beneficial to health and wellness”. There is a growing trend of acceptance among medical professionals. They largely consider massage therapy as a valid treatment for many ailments. Massage has been shown to be beneficial in treating sports injuries, anxiety, depression, migraines, and much more. Massage therapy is helpful in promoting range of motion, reducing scarring following surgeries, as well as mitigating the impact of cancer treatments on the body.
More than a quarter of Americans over the age of 20 experience pain that lasts more than 24 hours. Many of these individuals have turned to massage therapy as an effective form of pain management. Massage therapy is developing as a useful tool among physical therapy professionals and medical doctors, and is recommended as a helpful treatment more and more regularly.
Massage therapy can have a marked impact on an individual’s quality of life. However, many individuals have trouble working the essential service into their budget. While most spas and massage clinics are not able to accept health insurance as a means of reimbursement, many spas are now accepting Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards. The Spa’Ah is happy to accept HSA and FSA cards as a means of payment in Conway, Arkansas.
What is a Health Savings or Flexible Spending Account?
A Health Savings Account is a “type of savings account that allows you to set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualified medical expenses,” but is generally tied to a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). A Flexible Spending Account is a “a special account you put money into that you use to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care costs” that is also tax-free. Any modality massage therapy that is prescribed by a medical professional is considered a qualified medical expense under many plans.
An HSA is great way to get the most out of your High Deductible Health Plan. Your HSA allows you to save up money in case disaster strikes while maintaining the lower monthly payments of an HDHP. These funds can be used in conjunction with health insurance to provide the best overall care by allowing for services that may not be covered by health insurance, like massage therapy for injury recovery or helping improve circulation hampered by diabetes.
A Health Savings Account and a Flexible Spending Account are both pre-taxed payroll deductions. In other words, less of your pay check is taxed which lowers your taxable income. A Health Savings Account and/or Flexible Spending Account can beneficially impact the amount of taxes you may owe or get back at the end of the year.
Is paying for massage therapy with my HSA/FSA really hassle free?
The pre-taxed money in your Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account can be used for a variety of medically-related purposes. These include co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, and other qualified medical expenses. Massage therapy is one of these HSA/FSA eligible expenses. However, a letter of medical necessity from your doctor that indicates massage therapy as a treatment for a medical condition is required to utilize your Health Savings Account or Flexible spending account for this purpose. Your HSA/FSA cannot be used for general health and wellness expenses. The letter from your doctor should detail the need for massage, as well as the duration and frequency of care.
You can either pay using your HSA/FSA card or you can receive a reimbursement. It’s a simple process, especially at The Spa’ah in Conway, Arkansas. Our therapists are familiar with HSA/FSA documentation and procedures. The Spa’ah seeks to make every interaction with our therapists comforting and relaxing. This includes payment for our services no matter the method you choose!
It’s been a warm summer full of fun activities that may have resulted in a few bumps or falls. Maybe you’ve overused your muscles, or let your skincare regimen slip with trips to the lake or family picnics. We hope you stop by the Spa’Ah in Conway for one of our many spa treatments. We’re more than happy to help you use your Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account to afford massage therapy. These treatments can help increase your quality of life! We hope to see you soon at The Spa’ah!
May you have peace, happiness, and wellness!
