How I get my Lymphatic Massage for $5.40 and You Can Too!

So my insurance covers massages! I pay $5.40 for 1hr sweedish or lymphatic and YOURS might also cover this.

Here's the Skinny:

I get my massages at a chiropractic office. They have a massuse on staff there. Because it's in a chiropractic office - he can do diagnosis codes and it's not billed as "Massage Therapy" but Manual Therapy (chiropractic) which IS covered! 
Now here is what you need to do:

Some insurances require that in order to be covered for "manual therapy" you need to have met your deductible. So before my massages are $5.40 I might have to get 4 massages at $60 to meet mine. Or if you have paid your deductible for other medical services already you can go straight in at $5.40.
Call around and find a chiropractic office that has massuse on staff and ask if they know how to bill this.
YOURS MAY BE SLIGHTLY MORE OR LESS THAN MINE - DEPENDS ON YOUR COVERAGE AMOUNTS

Some insurances sadly don't even cover chiropractic (a darn shame if you ask me as a chiro has helped me in the past with allergies, back pain, headaches etc - they even did work on my daughter for her ears!) So not EVERYONE will get to do this - but its definatly worth a try!

I think it's important to ask if the massage therapist is certified in lymphatic massage as well. It's a totally different type of massage. Too much pressure on your body does not help with the swelling and I've heard it can make it worse. Just something to keep in mind!

I'm gonna call a few in my area and ask. It sure can get expensive. I've already met my deductible too. I hope I'm as lucky as you. Thanks!

WOW, thanks for the info.  My insurance does cover chiropractic so I will definitely look into this. 

Ok I have to ask a stupid question, what exactly is a lymphatic massage and how is it different from a regular massage?  (I've seen this discussed on the board but never fully understood)

Lymphatic is very superficial. There is not much pressure used at all, whereas say a sweedish would be deeper.

Lymphatic is a lot of superficial stroking of the swollen areas and then pressing them into the lymphatic drain sites.
 I believe the idea is that when you have surgery your lymphatic channels are disrupted and therefore not able to carry the fluid away as normal, so the massage helps to manually move it to where it needs to go to expel it.
One tip though - make sure you drink a LOT after a massage like this. You will pee a lot and it kinda moves the toxins around and if you DONT you can get a massive headache.

ok,. I see  kinda like what my doc has me doing to the open areas in my groin.  He has me "milking" the area so the built up fluids will drain out of the open holes.

Similar theory yes, but this fluid when they do it will not come out of holes, but rather get flushed out of the body in your urine. The points of drainage are in the groin and armpits, and basically joints in general I think.
You could probably google it and get a map of all the places:)

Here is some good info I posted a while back.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/3991669/Lym phatic-Massage-for-Swelling-long/#32283102

 

Thanks for the tip!!

Thanks for the tip.  I'm just getting ready to call my insurance company because I'm thinking the massage thing will really help with my legs.....

Great tip! I wish my insurance coverd chiro care. My lymphatic massages are $40 and I leave a tip. Cheaper than a regular massage. I've had several and they are SO worth it.