Alternative medicines and treatments are becoming increasingly popular in this day and age, from meditation to aromatherapy all the way to gratitude practices.
But the real question on everyone’s minds is “is (insert alternative treatment here) covered by my insurance?”
If you’ve found your way to this article, then you’re specifically looking for some answers about insurance and acupuncture. And we have those answers ready for you. So read on to find out all you need to know about acupuncture and if it’s covered by your insurance.
Table of contents
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture comes from Traditional Chinese medicine practices. The traditional Chinese medical practitioners believe the human body has over 2,000 acupuncture points that are connected by pathways or meridians.
The pathways or meridians create an energy flow known as Qi (which is pronounced like “chee”) that passes through the human body.
This energy flow is believed to be responsible for your body’s overall health.
Acupuncture is documented in Chinese history as early as 100 BC, which makes it a very old and very refined practice.
Though acupuncture is very successful for lots of people, it isn’t for everyone.
If you’re considering acupuncture, you should really talk to your doctor before proceeding.
How Does Acupuncture Effect The Body?
Because different points in the body reflect and connect to different things, acupuncture has a very vast list of health-related things that you can benefit from.
Acupuncture points are believed to be stimulated and connected to the central nervous system.
This means that the points are connected to the brain, muscles and spinal cord, and chemicals get released to these points when they are activated properly.
Acupuncture is believed to be effective and helpful for the following conditions:
Asthma, fibromyalgia, headaches, menstrual cramps, nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy, addiction, dental pain after surgery, lower back pain, carpal tunnel, osteoarthritis, myofascial pain, and can in some cases help with stroke rehabilitation.
Does Insurance Cover Acupuncture?
As insurance is covered by lots of different companies, it purely depends on who is providing yours.
Some insurance companies do provide insurance for acupuncture, but that can change.
Insurance companies are known to change their policies, so it is important to do the correct research and contact your insurance company when you are trying to work out if you can get acupuncture covered on yours.
In some cases, it depends on your personal situation and circumstances rather than if the insurance company provides the insurance overall.
So when it does come time for you to get the information you need to see if you are eligible, you will need to explain in full detail why you need the acupuncture, and what the medical condition is, and then your insurance company will tell you if you can get coverage for it with them.
If for whatever reason your current medical insurance provider cannot or will not provide the coverage for you, you may want to look into another insurance provider instead.
If you do need to change to a different insurance provider, make sure you contact other ones first and ask them if they can provide it before you sign anything or pay anything.
Known Companies That Provide Insurance For Acupuncture
Here, we will list some insurance providers that do provide insurance for acupuncture. It is heavily advised that you contact them and talk through any issues before you use them for the insurance.
If it’s all laid out and you have the correct knowledge ahead of time, you can save yourself a lot of money and headaches in the future.
Aetna
Aetna will provide you with insurance for acupuncture depending on what your condition is.
If you have chronic neck pain or headaches (minimum of a 12-week duration), lower back pain, pregnancy, osteoarthritis pain in the knee or hip, postoperative dental pain, post-operative chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting or temporomandibular disorders (TMD), they will provide you with insurance.
They will not provide you with insurance for multiple of these conditions at once, so you may want to consult with them and give them more detailed information before using them as your insurance provider.
Banner Health
Banner Health will cover your insurance for acupuncture. Along with physical medical conditions, they also offer acupuncture for emotional and mental issues such as anxiety and depression.
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross also covers your insurance for acupuncture. They offer you 12 acupuncture sessions, with no need for referrals, as part of your existing plan.
All you need to do is use their website to find a suitable doctor.
Cigna
Cigna will provide you with coverage for acupuncture as long as they deem it medically necessary, so you will need to discuss your conditions with them before they will provide the insurance.
Some of the medical conditions they will provide acupuncture insurance for include tension headaches, migraines, nausea associated with pregnancy, post-surgical nausea, and chemotherapy-induced nausea.
Health Net
Health Net is another insurance provider that offers flexible coverage for acupuncture on your plan.
Like Blue Cross Blue Shield, they do not require a referral and if you already have a plan with Health Net, they are happy to add acupuncture to that already existing plan.
United Healthcare
United Healthcare also provides acupuncture coverage, but you’ll want to read their policy as much as you can and talk to one of their staff members to make sure you are perfectly clear on what they do and don’t provide.
If you google “United Healthcare Acupuncture”, you will be able to find a full PDF outlining their acupuncture policy.
Conclusion
Now that you have read this article, you know that acupuncture can be covered by your insurance, it just depends on the medical condition and what your insurance company is willing to provide.
If you look into any of the insurance companies we’ve listed in this article, please remember that most of them will need a referral from your doctor, proof of your condition, and make sure you have confirmation from your provider that they will cover it before you invest in them!
Frequently Asked Questions
Most people who have acupuncture have to pay for it themselves. But, acupuncture is being used more and more within the NHS. If you have private healthcare, ask them if they cover acupuncture. Some of them do.
Cosmetic acupuncture is additionally a safe and natural alternative to more invasive procedures. This treatment is covered by most extended health plans if you have coverage for acupuncture.
If you have a pacemaker, are at risk for infection, have chronic skin problems, are pregnant, or have breast or other implants, be sure to tell your doctor. Acupuncture may be risky to your health if you fail to mention these matters.
