University of Calgary student health plan and massage
University of Calgary student health plan and massage: the SU plan pays 80% to $20 a visit, the GSA plan shares $325 a year. Referrals, claims and real costs.
By The Renu lymphatic and massage team · 5 min read
Both University of Calgary student plans cover massage therapy, but only with a referral and only up to modest limits. The Students' Union plan pays 80%, up to $20 a visit and $300 a benefit year per practitioner, with a written referral from a doctor or nurse practitioner. The Graduate Students' Association plan puts massage in a $325 yearly maximum shared with chiropractic, naturopathy, podiatry and speech therapy, and also needs a referral.
If you study at the University of Calgary, you almost certainly have a health plan through your fees: the Students’ Union plan for full-time undergraduates, or the Graduate Students’ Association plan for grad students. Both pay toward massage therapy. Neither pays much per visit, and both want a referral first, so a little planning goes a long way.
The two U of C plans at a glance
The SU and GSA plans are run by different administrators and set their massage benefit differently. Here is what each publishes for the current year.
| Students’ Union plan (undergraduate) | GSA plan (graduate) | |
|---|---|---|
| Administered by | Alumo (group 330753) | The PBAS Group; Equitable Life is the insurer for care on or after September 1, 2026 |
| Massage reimbursement | 80%, up to $20 a visit | Not shown on the coverage page; check your booklet |
| Yearly maximum | $300 per practitioner per benefit year | $325 combined with chiropractor, naturopath, podiatrist and speech therapist |
| Referral | Written referral from a doctor or nurse practitioner | Referral required; valid for one year from the date issued |
| Acupuncture | Not listed | Not listed |
| Compression garments | Not listed on the coverage page | Two items or pairs a year under medical equipment, with an MD’s letter |
| How to claim | AlumoBenefits app or web platform | Member portal; submit within 6 months of service |
One wording note on the SU plan. Alumo’s coverage page shows a “combined up to $20 per visit to a maximum of $300” line, but it sits with the mental health practitioners. The paramedical section itself says $300 per practitioner, and the Students’ Union’s own page says each service has its own $300 maximum. If the distinction matters to you, confirm it in the app.
What a massage actually costs you on each plan
Per-visit caps decide your real cost far more than the yearly maximum does. Using our published prices for a massage with a Registered Massage Therapist:
- SU plan, 60-minute massage at $120. 80% would be $96, but the $20 cap applies, so the plan pays $20 and you pay $100. The $300 maximum would take 15 visits to use up.
- SU plan, 30-minute massage at $80. The plan still pays $20, so you pay $60. Shorter sessions get more value from a flat cap.
- GSA plan. The $325 is shared with four other practitioner types. If massage is the only one you use, it covers less than three 60-minute sessions at $120 at most, and less if your booklet applies co-insurance.
Both Alumo pages add that reimbursement is based on reasonable and customary charges, and the SU plan’s maximum per visit is listed under “Resources” in the AlumoBenefits app. For how caps like these work on any plan, see annual maximums and per-visit limits for massage benefits.
If you also have coverage through a parent’s or partner’s plan, the student plan does not have to be your only source. Claiming massage therapy on two benefit plans explains coordination.
Referrals, blackout periods and the registration question
Three rules catch U of C students most often.
Get the referral before the visit. Both plans require one for massage. The SU plan specifies a written referral from a doctor or nurse practitioner, and you upload it with your claim. The GSA plan says a referral must be current and is valid for one year from the date of issue. Our page on doctor’s notes for massage therapy covers what to ask your doctor for.
Wait out the blackout, or keep receipts. The SU plan summary describes a blackout of up to 60 days from the start of term for new enrolments. You can still have treatment; you pay first and claim later.
Know who counts as a provider. The Alumo page says practitioners must be registered in the province where care is provided, and the GSA wording asks that they be licensed by the appropriate provincial or federal organization. Massage therapy is not yet a regulated profession in Alberta, according to the Massage Therapist Association of Alberta, so RMTs here are registered through professional associations rather than a provincial college. The SU plan lists Registered Massage Therapists by name, but if you are unsure how your plan applies its wording in Alberta, ask the administrator before you book.
One more point for budget-minded students: lower-cost student massages are a separate thing. The SU plan pays for Registered Massage Therapists, and student practitioner sessions are not RMT services. Student massage clinics and insurance receipts explains the difference.
Lymphatic drainage, compression and acupuncture
Neither plan lists manual lymphatic drainage as its own benefit. When an RMT provides it, it is a massage therapy service, so it draws on the same per-visit cap and yearly maximum. That matters if you are a student recovering from surgery and expecting several lymphatic drainage sessions in a short stretch: the caps will cover a small part of the cost.
Compression is a clearer story on the GSA plan, which lists compression stockings or garments (excluding athletic or general-use apparel), two items or pairs per benefit year, as medical equipment when recommended by a medical doctor, bought from a licensed medical supplier or recognized retailer, with a doctor’s letter. The SU plan’s coverage page lists braces, crutches and other equipment but not compression garments.
Acupuncture is not on either plan’s practitioner list. In Alberta, though, the Canada Revenue Agency recognizes acupuncturists as medical practitioners for the medical expense tax credit, which it does not do for massage therapists here, so an acupuncture receipt may still be useful at tax time.
Getting to Renu from campus
Renu is in West Hillhurst, about 4 km by road from the University of Calgary main campus, most directly via Crowchild Trail and 5 Avenue NW. University and Banff Trail stations on the CTrain Red Line serve the campus. There is free street parking on 19 Street.
We are open seven days, with weekday appointments until 8:30 pm and weekend appointments from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, which tends to suit class schedules. You can book online through Jane, choosing a Registered Massage Therapist for any session you plan to claim. Prices for every session length are on our massage therapy page.
Questions people ask
Does the U of C undergraduate plan cover acupuncture?
Acupuncturists are not among the paramedical practitioners listed on the Students' Union plan's coverage page, and the GSA plan does not list them either. In Alberta, acupuncture fees can count toward the federal medical expense tax credit, so keep your receipts even if the plan does not pay.
Can I use a referral from a walk-in or virtual doctor?
The SU plan asks for a written referral from a doctor or nurse practitioner and does not say it must be your family doctor. The GSA plan includes a set number of virtual visits with general practitioners on Maple, which may be a practical way to get one. Check with your administrator if you are unsure a referral will be accepted.
I just started at U of C. Why was my massage claim not paid yet?
The SU plan has a blackout of up to 60 days from the start of term for new enrolments. Pay for eligible care yourself during that window, keep the receipts and submit them once the blackout ends.
Does my student plan cover compression stockings after an injury or surgery?
The GSA plan lists compression stockings or garments, two items or pairs per benefit year, under medical equipment, with a letter from a medical doctor. The SU plan's coverage page does not mention compression garments, so ask Alumo before you buy.
Sources
- University of Calgary Students' Union plan (Alumo): Health coverage
- University of Calgary Students' Union plan (Alumo): Plan summary
- University of Calgary Students' Union: Health and dental plan
- Student Benefits (PBAS): The Graduate Students' Association of the University of Calgary
- Graduate Students' Association, University of Calgary: Health and dental services
- Massage Therapist Association of Alberta: Regulation FAQ
- Canada Revenue Agency: Authorized medical practitioners for the medical expense tax credit
- Wikipedia: Red Line (CTrain)
Page reviewed October 5, 2026. This page is education, not a diagnosis. For your own situation, talk to your doctor, surgeon or care team, or ask us.
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