The insurance policy for someone with private health insurance typically won’t cover alternative medicine. According to the National Institute of Health, Americans spend more than thirty billion dollars each year on complementary treatments, while annual out-of-pocket costs total about $27 billion. Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) consists of many therapies including these common remedies:
• Active release technique
• Acupressure
• Magnet therapy
• Hydrogen peroxide therapy
• Hypnosis
• Acupuncture
• Massage
With billions being spent each year on alternative medicine, insurance companies have historically been unwilling to expand their coverage to include CAM. The concerns of insurance providers …show more content…
In addition, nearly 20 percent of patients treated with acupuncture or hypnosis will pay an average of $70 per visit.
Over the last couple of years, several health insurance providers have begun offering coverage for alternative treatments. However the problem is, that most providers are simply not designed to track so many holistic treatments such as acupuncture.
Mainstream advocates have petitioned the White House for nearly a decade. Calling for widespread changes, activists have taken up the fight to force insurance companies to make adjustments in their coverage of alternative treatments. Under growing pressure, Cigna and AARP overhauled their policy to cover acupuncture and natural dietary supplements.
Coverage for CAM can often be confusing with unclarified details. Often it creates questions about what conditions the policy covers, what the limitations are in treatment options, or how many doctor’s appointments you're allowed to schedule.
On the other hand, CAM coverage has seemingly evolved in benefit and availability. Health care providers can now use available coverage for an alternative therapy as the main part of treatment. It provides better reimbursement for acupuncture and chronic pain
• Active release technique
• Acupressure
• Magnet therapy
• Hydrogen peroxide therapy
• Hypnosis
• Acupuncture
• Massage
With billions being spent each year on alternative medicine, insurance companies have historically been unwilling to expand their coverage to include CAM. The concerns of insurance providers …show more content…
In addition, nearly 20 percent of patients treated with acupuncture or hypnosis will pay an average of $70 per visit.
Over the last couple of years, several health insurance providers have begun offering coverage for alternative treatments. However the problem is, that most providers are simply not designed to track so many holistic treatments such as acupuncture.
Mainstream advocates have petitioned the White House for nearly a decade. Calling for widespread changes, activists have taken up the fight to force insurance companies to make adjustments in their coverage of alternative treatments. Under growing pressure, Cigna and AARP overhauled their policy to cover acupuncture and natural dietary supplements.
Coverage for CAM can often be confusing with unclarified details. Often it creates questions about what conditions the policy covers, what the limitations are in treatment options, or how many doctor’s appointments you're allowed to schedule.
On the other hand, CAM coverage has seemingly evolved in benefit and availability. Health care providers can now use available coverage for an alternative therapy as the main part of treatment. It provides better reimbursement for acupuncture and chronic pain