No, Original Medicare (Part and Part B) will not cover massage therapy, unless considered medically necessary. Medicare Advantage plans can cover benefits not included in Original Medicare, but specific coverage will depend on the plan.

Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans do cover other medically necessary therapy services, such as physical therapy and occupational therapy.

What therapy services are covered by Original Medicare?

Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) only pays for therapy services that are considered medically necessary, and generally massage therapy isn't considered medically necessary, but physically therapy might be. Although medicare supplement plans or medicare advantage plans might offer these additional benefits and allow you to see a massage therapist.

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How much would massage therapy cost with original Medicare

If a therapy service is considered medically necessary, Medicare Part B typically pays 80 percent of the cost for the service and you pay 20 percent (after you pay your Part B deductible). In 2024, the Part B deductible is $240 per year.

If your therapy service is not medically necessary, your therapy provider must give you a written notice called an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) before providing the service.

The ABN enables you to choose whether you want the therapy service. If you choose to get a service that is not medically necessary, you are responsible for 100 percent of the costs.

How much would massage therapy cost with Medicare Advantage?

If you have a medicare advantage plan that offers coverage for medical massage therapy, costs can vary depending on your plan's out of pocket expenses and overall coverage. For example, if your plan offers coverage for physical therapy or massage therapy, you may only have to reach your medicare coverage deductible and pay for the copay to meet your plan's out of pocket maximum, and you may not be responsible for any additional costs.

Medicare Advantage may offer other benefits

Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) are sold by private insurers as an alternative to Original Medicare. 

In 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) wrote a letter to all Medicare Advantage programs that included an encouragement for Medicare Advantage plans to offer therapeutic massage and medicare massage therapy as a benefit in their 2020 plans.²

Every Medicare Advantage plan must provide at least the same hospital and medical benefits as Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, and many Medicare Advantage plans provide other benefits.

Medicare Advantage plan benefits can vary widely from plan to plan, but it may be possible to find a plan that helps cover massage therapy or other physical therapy services such as a therapeutic massage not covered by Original Medicare.

A licensed insurance agent can help you compare plans and get you enrolled in one that provides the benefits that are most important to you.

Or call 1-800-557-6059 TTY Users: 711 24/7 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.