Stress Awareness Month
April is Stress Awareness Month which is appropriate since Tax Day is approaching! To help you de-stress this month and gain more balance, we included all sorts of de-stress solutions and tax credits to help you save and feel better!
Massages can relieve tension, anxiety, pain and tax burdens. Whether your trip to the massage therapist or spa yields tax breaks, and how you claim them, depends on the reason you are receiving the treatments.
Doctor’s Orders
You can deduct massage therapy that is necessary to treat, prevent or bring relief from a disease or condition. Fatigue, depression, anxiety, blood pressure, migraines, back pain, bone injuries and muscle tension are some of the conditions treated through massage therapy. A doctor’s prescription can help you substantiate the medical necessity of the therapy. You won’t get a deduction to merely improve general health. Only those massage therapy costs, along with other medical expenses, that exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income (found on Line 38, Form 1040) are deductible.
For Your Job
If your job, such as a professional athlete, depends on your body’s condition, your massage therapy can qualify as an employee expense to be deducted on Schedule A of Form 1040. For instance, at least one court stated that a hockey player could write off the costs of off-season conditioning exercises required for performing at training camp and in the regular season. The deduction applies to your unreimbursed expenses and only to the extent that the expenses are more than 2 percent of your adjusted gross income.
We always suggest having a prescription, with a diagnosis on file with our office. This will allow you to have proper documentation. Please let us know prior to your session that you will need a properly coded sales receipt and we can have it ready for you before you leave. Otherwise you can pick it up prior to your nextsession or we can email it to you.
And of cause, always check with your accountant that you are eligible for this deduction.
Please note that often Massage Therapy and or Myofascial Release (MFR) is covered by insurance. United Healthcare, some of the Empire plans, etc. are reimbursing our patients for their medical massage treatments. Please contact your insurance carrier and find out if Massage Therapy, procedure code 97124 and or MFR,/MLD and other manual therapies, procedure code 97140 or is covered when given by a Licensed Massage Therapist. If so, let us know so we can discuss the proper paperwork needed for you to be reimbursed. You will need a diagnosis in order to submit to your carrier therefore a prescription will be needed from your doctor so that we can use it on your paperwork.
So let’s get you booked! Give us a call at 631-462-4263
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
All information stated is for educational and informational purposes only, to help the client to pursue his/her life goals in a healthy manner. Coaching is NOT a substitute for counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care, or substance abuse treatment. Coaching is not to be used in place of any form of diagnosis, treatment, or therapy. The content should not substitute for medical advice from a qualified health care professional, medical or psychological (mental) diagnosis, treatment, and care.
ACCURACY
Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information shared on or through our website, the information may accidentally contain inaccuracies or typographical errors. Every effort has been made to present you with the most accurate, up-to-date information, but because the nature of scientific research is constantly evolving, we cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Serving the Chronic Condition Community
Pain. Disease. Illness. Inflammation.
Lymphatic & Immune System Challenges
Marla Kaplan
Nationally Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach
HealthAndWellnessCoachLI.com
