Health insurance for remedial massage
Remedial massage can be covered under extras cover, but only if your therapist is qualified in remedial massage.
Key takeaways
- Remedial massage can be exceptionally helpful for people that suffer from pain due to an injury or general wear-and-tear.
- In Australia, it is recognised as a viable treatment and can be included in extras cover.
- You could find a policy with a combined annual limit that includes other natural therapies or treatments.
What is remedial massage?
Remedial massage is a specific type of massage intended to maintain your physical health and aid recovery. That makes it different from the massages you might get cheap in Bali, where the main point is relaxation. Remedial massage is essentially a type of physiotherapy, though you don't need to be treated by a physiotherapist specifically.
How does health insurance cover remedial massage?
Remedial massage can be covered by private health insurance under an extras policy. Extras helps pay for out-of hospital treatments that Medicare won't cover. Each extras policy will have a maximum benefit limit that you can claim each year, which might be shared with other treatment types, like acupuncture or physiotherapy. More comprehensive policies will cost more in premiums, but offer a higher benefit limit.
Note that extras will only cover proper remedial massage, not relaxation massages. The standards applied to this vary, but you'll generally need to see a massage therapist with a qualification in remedial massage. Typically is doesn't need to be a full-blown physiotherapist though. Best bet is to call your health fund ahead of time and check if they'll cover a particular provider.
Is remedial massage covered by Medicare?
No, remedial massage is not covered by Medicare. Medicare is generally restricted to what are considered 'essential' health services. You could definitely argue that remedial massage, along with services like routine optical and dental care, should be considered essential, but the Aussie government doesn't seem to agree.
That said, if you need physiotherapy services, there are some Medicare rebates available for it, as long as you see your GP first. If you need quick relief for some physical pain and you don't have private health cover, this might be the best first step to take.
"When choosing a health insurance policy, having access to remedial massages is one of my top priorities. I often get lower back pain and find myself needing a massage almost every two weeks. A 30min back massage does the trick, and after using my health insurance I’ll usually only pay about $15 out of pocket."
Features to look for in a health insurance policy
These policy terms and conditions are common among insurers and may impact your ability to make a claim on remedial massage therapy:
- Treatment purpose. You cannot claim for remedial massage therapy if you’re not attending the appointment for a specific reason.
- Treatment frequency. If you plan on attending multiple remedial massage sessions in the one day from the same practitioner, you can only claim once.
- One claim. If you can claim a rebate from multiple sources, for example from your private health insurance and work cover, you can only claim from one source.
- Preferred providers. In all cases, you must seek treatment from a recognised remedial massage therapist. You may be able to choose your own therapist from outside your insurer’s practitioner network.
- Qualifications. Insurers will not recognise a remedial massage therapist if they have received their qualifications online or by distance education.
"I have extras health insurance cover with AHM and through this I am able to claim some money back from my monthly remedial massages. Not only are the massages great for my aches and muscles, but AHM's extras cover is also great for my bank balance. The best part of the process is that the discount comes straight off the total price when I'm paying for my massage, as I can scan my AHM card there and then. This makes it all very easy!"
Health insurance waiting periods for remedial massage
All extras treatments have a waiting period before you can claim. This stops you from taking out cover, then immediately claiming, then cancelling. Remedial massage typically comes with a 2 month waiting period before you can make a claim.
There are a few ways to get extras cover without 2 month waiting periods. The first is to take advantage of one of the many health insurance sign up offers that are kicking around - these generally give you some period of free cover plus waiving 2 and 6 month waiting periods on extras. You can also check out ahm extras policies - some of their products have no 2 or 6 months waiting periods as standard.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
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