Is Massage Therapy Covered by Insurance? What You Need to Know

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May 15, 2025

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If you're someone who swears by massage therapy to deal with stress, muscle tension, or chronic pain, you're not alone. And if you’re shopping for health insurance, you might be wondering: is massage therapy actually covered by insurance in Canada?

Short answer: yes, most insurance plans usually cover massages, but not all. The longer answer? It depends on the type of insurance you have, whether you’re covered through work, and what kind of plan you’re buying.

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Key Takeaways

Public health insurance in Canada doesn’t cover massage therapy — you’ll need private health insurance.
Most private plans cover massage therapy through registered massage therapists (RMTs), but limits vary.
Individual plans often give you more flexibility and higher massage coverage than work benefits.

What Is Insurance for Massages?

Before we go any further, let’s clear up a common mix-up. The term massage insurance often refers to liability insurance that massage therapists need to protect themselves against legal claims. That’s not what we’re talking about here.

In this context, we’re talking about health insurance for massages, meaning a health insurance plan that helps cover the cost of receiving massage therapy from a registered massage therapist (RMT).

Massage therapy is usually grouped under paramedical services, which also include physio, chiropractic care, and acupuncture. For many Canadians, it’s not just a feel-good service, it’s a practical one. The top two reasons people get massages are for medical reasons (61%) and for mental health support (56%), according to Clinicsense.

Is Massage Therapy Covered by Public Health Insurance?

In most cases, no. Provincial health insurance plans across Canada generally do not cover massage therapy, even if it's recommended by a doctor. Here’s a quick look across the provinces:

Ontario (OHIP): Does not cover massage therapy, even with a doctor’s referral.
British Columbia (MSP): No coverage for massage therapy under the basic provincial plan. Some low-income residents may be eligible for partial reimbursement through supplementary assistance programs, but this is rare.
Alberta (AHCIP): Does not cover massage therapy.
Quebec (RAMQ): Massage therapy is not included in public health coverage.
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland & Labrador: No provincial health plans cover massage therapy services.
Manitoba (Manitoba Health), Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan Health), Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut: None provide public coverage for massage therapy.

There are a few exceptions, like if you’re receiving care in a hospital setting as part of a broader medical treatment plan. But for most people, getting a massage at a clinic means paying out-of-pocket unless you have private insurance to help cover some of the costs.

Massage therapy can be expensive, with sessions typically ranging from $50 to $175 in Canada. If you go regularly, the costs add up. That’s why people often look for private insurance plans that can help cover it.

How Private Health Insurance Covers Massage Therapy

Private health insurance is your best option if you're looking for massage therapy covered by insurance.

Most extended health plans in Canada include coverage for massage therapy, but the amount and type of coverage can vary quite a bit. Here's what you might see in a typical plan:

Annual limits: Some plans cover up to $500 per year, others up to $1,000 or more
Per-visit maximums: Your plan might only reimburse $40 or $50 per session, even if the session cost $100
Provider requirements: You’ll usually need to see a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) for the visit to qualify for coverage

Not all coverage is created equal. Just because a plan mentions massage therapy doesn’t mean it covers everything you’ll need. Always read the fine print, as there’s a ton of variance across private health insurance plans in Canada.

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5 Things to Look for in a Health Insurance Plan For Massages

If massage therapy is high on your priority list, here are the key features to look for:

1. Coverage amount per year

Plans vary widely here. $500 is fairly common, but some go up to $1,000 per year or more.

2. Per-visit cap

Some plans only reimburse a portion of each massage session. Check whether that portion will actually make a dent in your bill.

For example, if your plan has a per-visit maximum of $100 for massage therapy and your RMT charges $150, you pay the difference out of pocket.

3. RMT requirement

Most insurance providers only cover treatments from a Registered Massage Therapist. Make sure your massage therapist is properly licensed.

4. Doctor's referral

Some plans still require a doctor’s note before coverage kicks in. Although this is becoming much less common, it’s better to double-check first!

5. Claim process

Will you need to pay upfront and submit receipts? Or does the clinic offer direct billing to your insurer?

Is Getting Health Insurance for Massages Worth It?

If you’re considering buying health insurance just to cover massage therapy, it might not be the best bang for your buck. While massage coverage is a nice perk, it’s probably not worth the cost of a plan on its own.

But as part of a broader health plan? It’s a smart add-on.

How Often Do People Get Massages?

For general wellness and stress relief, it’s common to get a massage every 2 to 3 months, or a few times a year when your back is really acting up.

Let’s say you go 4 times a year:

Cost per visit: $150
Total annual cost: $600
Massage coverage in most plans: Usually around $500 per year

Even with a decent plan, you’re only saving a couple hundred bucks at most. Not nothing, but probably not worth buying an entire plan for that alone.

When Does Massage Coverage Actually Make Sense?

Where massage therapy really shines is as part of a more complete health plan.

If you’re using — or planning to use — other health services like:

Dental cleanings and fillings
Vision exams and glasses
Mental health counselling
Prescription drug coverage

...then it makes sense to choose a plan that bundles in massage coverage too. You’ll stay on top of everything without having to nickel-and-dime your way through health appointments.

A lot of people think of insurance as something you only use when things go sideways. But good health coverage helps you stay ahead of problems, not just react to them.

Massage therapy is part of that. It helps prevent injury, manage stress, improve sleep, and deal with chronic pain before things spiral. So if you’re someone who wants to stay on top of your health, it makes sense to have this in your toolkit.

Workplace Benefits versus Individual Plans

Many Canadians get health benefits through their job. If you're one of them, check your group benefits plan, there's a good chance massage therapy is included.

But workplace plans often come with fixed limits and less flexibility. If you’re self-employed, between jobs, or your plan doesn’t cover much, you might be considering individual health insurance.

Individual plans are bought directly by you, not through an employer. These are a good fit if:

You don’t have benefits through work
You work freelance, part-time, or on contract
You want more control over your coverage
You want higher massage coverage limits than what your work plan offers

With individual insurance, you can choose a plan that prioritizes things like massage therapy, so you’re not stuck paying out of pocket or overpaying for services you don’t use.

Does PolicyMe Cover Massage Therapy?

Yes, massage therapy is covered under PolicyMe’s Health & Dental Insurance plans. Depending on the plan you choose, you may get 50-80% reimbursement on services, for a combined maximum of $600-1000 per year.

Generally speaking, here’s what massage therapy coverage looks like:

Coverage for massage therapy falls under Professional Services
You’re covered up to a set dollar amount each year depending on the plan level you choose
You’ll need to see a Massage Therapist and keep your receipts

Whether you go for massages once in a while or it’s part of your regular wellness routine, PolicyMe makes it easy to include that in your plan.

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