FSA AND MASSAGE THERAPY

There’s often some confusion around claiming a massage as a medical expense. Can something that feels so relaxing actually be considered part of your health care coverage? In many cases, it absolutely can.
There are countless benefits of massage therapy. Massages can improve circulation, decrease pain and inflammation, reduce stress, as well as provide numerous benefits to your heart. Let’s take a leap into the world of healthcare to explain how you can pay for massage therapy through your health insurance plan with pre-tax dollars.
Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) cover massages for certain medical treatments. These treatments must be approved and prescribed by a physician.

Medical Conditions:
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has ruled that massage therapy for the sole purpose of tension and stress relief does not qualify as an eligible expense. Examples of medical conditions that qualify include carpal tunnel, back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression and pain management.

How to Use an FSA for Massages: The first step to using your FSA to cover massage therapy expenses is to pay a visit to your primary care doctor or local physician. Let the doctor know you have an FSA and are seeking massage therapy as the solution to a medically eligible condition. The physician will then write a prescription for your massage if she deems it to be medically necessary. The physician must provide three pieces of information on your prescription: why the massage is medically necessary; the number of sessions per month or frequency of your visits; and, the length of treatment.

About an FSA: FSAs allow you to set aside pretax money to pay for qualifying medical and dental expenses, including co-pays and deductibles. For 2018, employees can contribute $2,650 to their health FSAs, up from the 2017 limit of $2,600. These plans are only available with employer-based health care plans, and employers can also make contributions. One shortcoming to FSAs is the “use it or lose it” policy. Some plans provide certain rollover or grace period options, but most plans erase any money left in the account at the end of the year. (For related reading, see: 20 Ways to Use Up Your Flexible Spending Account.)