Massage is a popular way to relax or recover from injury, and often the therapy is covered by extended health insurance.
However, things are about to change.
If you’re not prepared, you could soon be facing a bill for what was previously covered.
Massage therapy is only regulated in B.C., Ontario and Newfoundland, which means anyone can practice massage in Alberta.
Up until now, insurance companies have covered claims from almost all massage therapists, but that’s about to change.
Get breaking National news
As of October 1st, Manulife is going to demand that massage therapists in Canada have 2,200 hours or a demonstrated equivalent to that standard.
Manulife isn’t alone, Sunlife has already implemented the change, and Alberta Blue Cross will change its requirement May 1, 2013.
While raising the bar may ultimately be good for patients, the sudden switch has caught many therapists off guard.
“For the majority of massage therapists in Alberta, they’re going to be scrambling in a lot of cases to prove that they meet these requirements,” says Pam Kats, Massage Therapists Association of Alberta. “Some therapists won’t meet those requirements because they’ll need upgrading in terms of education.”
Insurance companies say the changes are designed to bring Alberta’s industry to the same level as other jurisdictions.
Officials warn massage clients should be careful for the next few months, even if they’ve used the same therapist for years, because there’s no guarantee their services will still be covered.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.