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We understand that
you may have some uncertainties regarding different aspects of Massage
Therapy. Hopefully this page can help clear up any uncertainties
regarding procedure, etiquette, and medical coverage. If your question
is not here, please
call or e-mail
the clinic.
Q: Does OHIP cover Massage Therapy treatments?
A: No, massage is not covered by OHIP,
although many extended health care insurance companies cover it. Check
with your employer or insurance company to see if you have coverage.
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Q: How do I find out if I have coverage?
A: You can find out a few different
ways. If you have an employee handbook, it may indicate whether or not
you have coverage. You can also ask your employer. Another way is to
phone the insurance company directly.
Be sure to have your Group and ID numbers handy. Ask them:
~ How much coverage do you have, if any?
~ Is there any deductible? Is it per calendar year (ie:
January-December)?
~ Do they cover a certain amount per visit or up to a maximum per
year?
~ Is a medical doctor’s note required?
~ Do they allow the clinic to bill directly?
You could also
call our clinic. We may have treated someone who works at your
company, and know how much coverage they have.
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Q: Do I need a referral from my doctor?
A: If you will be using your
insurance coverage (ie: Green Shield, Liberty Health etc.), then
yes, you generally require a doctor’s note. To be sure, ask your
employer or phone your insurance company to determine if they require
one. If you are paying for the massage yourself, you do not need
a doctor’s note. Top
Q: I was recently in a car accident, will my car insurance pay for
massage treatments?
A: Your car insurance will pay for
accident related injuries upon approval of a treatment plan filled out
by a Registered Massage Therapist. You may have received a treatment
plan form (OCF-18/59) with your paperwork from the insurance company.
On your initial visit you will need to bring the following
information:
~ Adjuster's name, address, phone, fax number
~ Policy and Claim numbers
~ The treatment plan form, if you have it (OCF-18/59)
~ Names of medications you are taking
~ Extended health insurance information (if you have coverage)
After your initial assessment visit (usually one
to one and a half hours), the treatment plan form will be filled
out by your therapist and submitted to your insurance adjuster for
approval. It will contain information regarding goals of treatment,
frequency, time frame and estimated cost. The insurance company
will be invoiced directly for treatments so you do not have to pay
out of pocket. If you also have extended health insurance coverage,
the auto legislation requires you to use up that coverage first.
Once your primary benefits have been used, then your car insurance
will pay for your treatments. A treatment plan will still need to
be completed, regardless. Top
Q: How do I pay for massage therapy treatments?
A: You may pay by cash, personal
cheque, Debit, Visa, MasterCard or through direct
billing to your insurance company (if applicable).
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Q: How often do I need to go, and how long will I have to keep
going for massage?
A: This is a difficult question to
answer because it really depends on the individual and their
particular condition. If you were in a serious car accident, you may
need to go three times per week. If you are just going for relaxation,
you may only need once per month. After treating you, your therapist
can give you a guideline as to how often they think you should come.
It ultimately depends on you. Factors such as pain levels, time
commitment, finances, insurance coverage and your healing time will
affect your decision. Some clients will determine frequency by the
amount of insurance coverage they have. For example, if you had $500
per year, you could come for approximately eight, one hour visits per year,
which amounts to once every six weeks. Or, you may choose to come for
roughly thirteen half hour visits, which amounts to once every four
weeks.
You can continue going for massage as long as you need to. Some will
stop once their pain or condition is resolved, some will continue to
go for preventative maintenance. It is really up to you. Your
therapist will make recommendations of how long they think you’ll
need to go.
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Q: Should I go for an hour or half an hour?
A: For your first appointment, we
usually recommend one hour. This will give your therapist time to go
through any assessment or testing while still allowing time for hands on treatment.
It will also give them a chance to see what areas require more focused
work, and help you to determine which areas you prefer treated. If you think you would like a full body massage, it usually takes one
hour. If you would like us to concentrate on a specific area (ie: neck
and shoulders or lower back), then a half hour is usually sufficient.
Again, it is ultimately your decision.
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Q: What areas are worked on during a typical full body massage
treatment?
A: A full body massage generally
includes your back, the back of your legs and feet, front of your
legs, arms and hands, neck, shoulders, face and scalp. It can also
include your buttock muscles and abdomen if you wish. Your genitals
and breasts will never be touched. Women can request breast massage to
treat specific pathologic conditions. Please
e-mail or call if
you have questions regarding this.
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Q: What do I wear?
A: You can wear as much or as
little clothing as you wish. Whatever makes you feel the most
comfortable. You will be covered by a sheet and blanket at all times,
uncovering only the area being worked on. Most people just wear their
underpants, some prefer to wear nothing, some women leave their bra
on, some people bring shorts, others are fully clothed. It is really
up to you. We would rather have you fully clothed and comfortable than
totally unclothed and nervous. It is difficult to relax someone who is
nervous about what they are (or are not) wearing during their massage.
Generally, an oil is applied to the skin to allow the therapists hands
to glide smoothly over the area being treated. This is why removal of
clothing is usually suggested.
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Q: What does R.M.T. stand for?
R.M.T. stands for
Registered
Massage Therapist. Some therapists use the designation M.T. for
Massage Therapist. This is the same as an R.M.T. although these
therapists may have become registered with the College of Massage
Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) after 1998.
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Q: What is the difference between a masseuse, and an R.M.T.?
A: Masseuse and masseur are names
that were used by some people before we became regulated by a
government body. The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO)
started assigning the R.M.T. designation in 1995. Those who were
members of the College at that time then became R.M.T.’s. If someone
does massage and calls themselves a masseuse, then they are not
registered and may not be providing therapeutic massage treatments.
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Q: What is the difference between someone who is “licensed”,
“certified” or “registered”?
A: Someone who says they are
“licensed” or “certified” are not the same as someone who is
“registered”. They generally do not possess liability insurance and
may have trained for only 500 hours. They are not covered by extended
health or car accident insurance and are not regulated by the CMTO. It
is illegal for some who is not registered to use the name or
designations R.M.T. or M.T. Recently, some people trained in "myomassology"
have adapted the designation Registered Myomassology Practitioner or
R.M.P. They have also referred to themselves as Registered
Aroma-Massage Therapists (R.A.M.T.) in the past. Please note that they
are not registered by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO)
and are not the same as an R.M.T. An R.M.T. is bound by the Regulated
Health Professions Act and the Massage Therapy Act. All R.M.T.'s have
a photo I.D. card with their registration number on it (ie: C 189).
Always ask to see it if you are uncertain of the person's credentials.
Please see Therapists for more information on our training.
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Q: I am nervous about receiving a massage. What can I expect?
A: Very often, first time clients
come in and tell us that they are nervous. It is normal to be for any
new experience. Part of any massage, even if it is therapeutic, is to
help the client to relax. Please see
Receiving a
Massage for a complete description of what to expect.
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Q: Do I have to see the same therapist each time I go for massage?
A: You can stay with the same
therapist or switch therapists at any time. It really depends on which
therapist(s) you prefer, or one therapist may have a schedule which is
more compatible with your own. You will not offend a therapist if you
switch to another within the clinic.
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