FSA= Flexible Spending Account
If you have an FSA account and would like to use it to pay for your massages (pre-tax dollars equal a 20-25% savings versus post tax spending) there are a few things you need to do before scheduling your massage.
Massage therapy is considered a restricted benefit in FSA accounts. In order to use your FSA account, your primary care physician will need to determine if there is a medical necessity for the massages (carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic stress/depression/anxiety, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, pain management, lower back pain...etc.)
If your physician determines that there is a medical necessity for the massage sessions, they have to write a prescription for the appointments. There are three pieces of information which MUST be present on the prescription for it to be considered valid:
- Medical necessity: why you need the massage (i.e. relief of chronic pain due to lower back injury)
- Frequency: number of sessions per month (i.e. minimum of 2 sessions per month)
- Duration: length of treatment (i.e. 12 months)
Hang onto that prescription! You may need it to justify the massage expenditures.
When you come into the office, I will swipe your FSA card as payment and VOILA your pretax dollars have paid for your massage.
If there is a problem with the card or if you do not have it available, you can pay out of pocket and I will email you a receipt you can submit for reimbursement (this is where you may need the copy of the prescription).
If you have it, use it! Regular massages are preventative health care~
