If you suffer from lower back pain, headaches, insomnia, digestive disorders, anxiety, or certain other conditions, massage therapy from a licensed therapist may be recommended by one of our in-house specialists at Palm Medical Centers.
Not only does massage therapy relieve the pain and stress of muscle tension, but it can also:
- Improve your circulation
- Boost your energy
- Increase your flexibility
- Stimulate your lymphatic system to reduce swelling
- Improve your immune system by aiding in the removal of toxins from your body
The good news is that if you have a Medicare Advantage plan – which covers health and wellness services that are not covered by original Medicare Parts A and B – you may have access to massage therapy with some or all the costs involved covered. In this blog, we’ll tell you more about massage therapy Medicare benefits, and where you can go to receive senior primary care with genuine kindness.
When the Cost of Massage Therapy Is Covered by Medicare Advantage
Although your Medicare Advantage plan may not cover all costs of massage therapy, it may include coverage for some of the costs depending on your specific plan and three main criteria:
1. The Therapy Must Be Related to an Illness or Injury
Medical (or therapeutic) massage as recognized by some Medicare Advantage plans refers to the manipulation of soft tissue – muscles, ligaments, tendons, or fascia – to help treat the management of a covered injury or condition.
2. Massage Therapy Must Be Ordered by an In-Network Doctor
This is important because it means you cannot go to massage therapy without a prescription from your primary care provider. Your in-network primary care provider must be the one to prescribe massage therapy, and it must be for a diagnosed condition that is covered by your plan.
3. The Treatment Must Be Performed by an In-Network Massage Therapist
The therapist must be licensed, signed up with your Medicare Advantage network, and have a national provider identifier.
The Health Benefits of Massage Therapy
By improving circulation throughout your body, massage therapy helps deliver more oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to sore or injured areas, thereby promoting more rapid healing. It also lowers your blood pressure, providing long-term benefits to your heart health.
In addition to relaxing your muscles and alleviating pain by stimulating the production of endorphins, massage therapy can improve your range of motion and flexibility. It even helps improve your balance and posture, helping you prevent future physical injury.
Perhaps best of all, massage therapy helps put your mind at ease. It increases serotonin (the chemical that affects body functions such as mood, sleep, digestion, and sexual desire) and dopamine (the chemical that makes you feel good), thereby lowering stress, decreasing anxiety, and reducing irritability.
As such, massage therapy can help treat a wide range of acute and chronic conditions besides muscle stiffness and spasms, including everything from anxiety, depression, headaches, fatigue, and sleep disorders to arthritis, asthma, joint pain, and fibromyalgia. It can also do wonders for repetitive stress injuries, sciatica, and sports injuries, such as tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, and sprains and strains. And that’s just to name a few.
Medicare Massage Therapy in South and Central Florida
At Palm Medical Centers, we have patient relations outreach representatives who can assist you with Medicare application and plan selections, as well as in-house specialists who can help you determine how to best utilize Medicare Advantage-approved massage therapy to treat your medical condition.
To make the most of massage therapy Medicare benefits, call us today at (833) 500-PALM (7256) to schedule a consultation. Palm Medical Centers has 34 clinics located throughout Texas and Florida, so there’s bound to be one within 3 miles of your home. We have a 98% patient satisfaction rate, so you can be sure you’re in great hands. Contact us today to start feeling better!
