Move Well Into Your “Wisdom Years”
Written By: Karma Raad, Owner, Your Healthy Karma
Over nearly 30 years of practicing massage, my older adult clients have consistently told me that massage therapy has been the single most effective intervention for managing their pain, anxiety, and stiffness. Even while receiving physical therapy, acupuncture, or chiropractic adjustments, taking prescription medications, or exercising at home, clients often credit massage with having the greatest impact on their well-being—at least in the short term.
Despite knowing this truth in my bones, we still lack enough credible evidence from well-designed studies to convince policymakers and Medicare Advantage insurers to cover massage therapy as a standalone service.
In my review of roughly 40 Medicare Advantage plans available across King and Snohomish counties, I found that massage therapy coverage is extremely limited and generally restricted to certain special-needs or employer-sponsored retiree plans. Complete local plan comparisons for 2027 have not yet been released, but an expansion of massage benefits is not expected. Even as more primary care providers refer their patients for massage, insurance barriers often prevent older adults from receiving the care they need.
Research suggests that massage therapy may help older adults with:
Joint pain from arthritis—especially knee and hip osteoarthritis—by offering meaningful short-term pain relief and improved mobility.
Anxiety and stress—by easing tension and calming the body’s stress response, including lowering heart rate and blood pressure during and after sessions.
Sleep quality—by helping clients fall asleep more easily and sleep more soundly.
Muscle tightness and stiffness—by loosening tight muscles and making daily activities more comfortable.
Dementia-related agitation—through gentle massage and touch therapy that may ease restlessness and anxiety.
Your Healthy Karma is built on the core belief that everyone deserves access to massage therapy, and we are committed to lowering those barriers for our community.
Introducing the Move Well Membership Program for Seniors
Starting in October, we are piloting the Move Well Membership Program for Medicare beneficiaries. Consistent massage can make a meaningful difference in managing everyday pain, stiffness, stress, and changes in mobility.
The Move Well membership makes it easier and more affordable for adults 65 and older to build massages into their wellness routines, with straightforward monthly pricing and valuable benefits for members and their families.
Move Well Restore 60 — $100 per Month Includes one 60-minute massage each month to help maintain comfort and mobility.
Move Well Thrive 90 — $140 per Month Includes one 90-minute massage each month, offering extra time for unhurried positioning, deep relaxation, and focused care across multiple areas of concern.
Membership Benefits
One massage session each month
Priority scheduling
10% off additional sessions for you
25% off one session for a family member every three months
50% off one gift card every three months
Sign up for a membership
We welcome your feedback on this new pilot program so we can continue tailoring it to best serve your needs.
Want to Do Something About It?
Vote and Speak Out
If massage therapy has helped you manage pain, remain active, or rely less on medication, share your experience with your elected officials.
Contact your U.S. representative and senators and ask them to support Medicare coverage and research for medically necessary massage therapy provided by licensed professionals. You can also contact your WA state legislators and ask them to advocate with our congressional delegation, support broader massage benefits in state-regulated health plans, and fund research into patient outcomes and healthcare savings.
Personal stories are powerful. Explain what massage has helped you do, what happens when you cannot afford it, and the specific coverage changes you would like to see. You also leave a brief message for your state legislators on the Legislative Hotline at 800-562-6000.
Let Your Voice Be Heard
The 2026 General Election is around the corner on November 3rd. Ballots go out on October 16th, and online and mail voter registration deadline is October 26th. Update your voter registration and send in your ballots - don’t let others speak for you!
References Asgarimoghadam A, et al. Swedish massage vs. hip exercises for knee osteoarthritis. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2026. Gross AR, et al. Massage for neck pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024. Harris M, Richards KC. Effects of massage on relaxation in older people. J Clin Nurs. 2010. Makris UE, et al. Persistent pain in older patients: A review. JAMA. 2014. Mo Y, et al. Manual therapy effectiveness: Systematic review. Front Psychol. 2026. Pacheco-da-Costa S, et al. Physical therapy for musculoskeletal pain in older adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022. Prandeh Afshar P, et al. Non-pharmacological pain care in older patients. BMC Geriatr. 2025. Shi Y, Wu W. Non-pharmacological therapies for chronic pain. BMC Med. 2023. Wu J, et al. Massage and touch for dementia symptoms. J Adv Nurs. 2017.
