The Best and Worst Alternative Care Coverage

Many individuals with health insurance plans have found that approved treatments
re only partially covered, causing them to incur sizable out-of-pocket expenses.
Prior to receiving CAM treatment, patients should meet with their insurer to di
scuss certain aspects of their current health coverage.
Does the provider accept the current insurance plan?
Is it necessary for the provider to be part of the plan s network?
What additional costs will be covered (supplements, tests, supplies, etc.)?

According to a recent article co-authored by U.S. News & World Report and Duke M
edicine, the optimal health care plan for most individuals includes integrative
medicine. Defined as a combination of traditional medicine and alternative thera
py that achieves the best possible results for any given patient, integrative te
chniques include acupuncture, bio-field therapies, guided imagery, hypnotherapy,
and yoga. While the article notes that most integrative techniques are not cove
red by traditional health plans, patients should meet with insurance representat
ives to determine the extent of their coverage.
Some health insurance providers cover various natural supplements and alternativ
e therapies. Dr. Tyler Woods of eMaxHealth writes that Aetna offers a 15-percent
discount on more than 2,400 natural products and services, including herbal sup
plements, aromatherapy, and homeopathic remedies. Kaiser Permanente is another e
xample; the Oakland-based firm recently began offering coverage for acupuncture,
chiropractic care, and other CAM treatments.
Before purchasing an insurance plan with alternative healthcare options, patient
s should shop around to find a provider that caters to their specific needs. Imp
ortant considerations include:
Which forms of alternative medicine are considered alternative , and which ones are
not?
Does the plan cover alternative medicine for all existing needs of yourself and f
amily members?
What limits are placed on the costs or alternative treatments for each need?
Do practitioners of alternative medicine need to be in the network? If so, are th
ey nearby?
Get More Out of Your Current Plan
Concerning the patient s payment options for integrative medicine, some employers
offer health care reimbursement accounts. This type of system will often pay for
services rendered by alternative care specialists, but a plan that includes alt
ernative care will generally cost more.
According to Health.com contributor Jeanne Lee, patients can receive insurance c
overage for CAM health care expenses by obtaining a prescription for these servi
ces from their primary physician. This prescription must include the diagnosis,
as well as frequency and length of the necessary treatment. While this measure w
ill not guarantee coverage, many insurance provider s will approve all doctor-appr
oved physicians. The most commonly approved services include chiropractic care,
massage therapy, and homeopathy.
Another approach, Lee notes, is to meet with insurance representatives to discus
s the relatively low cost of alternative treatments compared to conventional med
icine. For this reason, patients who receive CAM services should always obtain a
receipt from their health care provider(s); an alternative treatment that costs
$300 will appear considerably more attractive to insurance companies than a $15
,000 conventional procedure that addresses the same medical condition.
Finally, Lee encourages patients to seek out affordable health care providers if

alternative expenses are not covered by their insurance plans. Many colleges an
d training centers offer discounted services for acupuncture, chiropractic care,
naturopathic medicine, and other CAM-related practices. In many cases, these co
nsultations will cost between $10 and $60.
always obtain a receipt from [your] health care provider(s); an alternative trea
tment that costs $300 will appear considerably more attractive to insurance comp
anies than a $15,000 conventional procedure that addresses the same medical cond
ition
While some progressive insurance companies currently cover certain CAM treatment
s and services, most alternative techniques require the enrollee to pay out-of-p
ocket. However, there are several ways to obtain these treatments at a lower pri
ce
and receive partial to full coverage from an insurance provider. Patients are
encouraged to research insurance companies extensively, compare plans to see wh
ich alternative services are offered, and discuss reimbursement options with the
ir employers.