ARTICLES
Many insurance plans now cover a number of alternative treatments that were once thought to be outside normal medical procedures. This is especially true in Washington State, where alternative and homeopathic treatments are widely sought out and accepted. However, there is no hard and fast rule governing coverage of alternative medicine, so be sure you check into the coverage of your specific plan before you seek alternative medicine treatments.
The most commonly covered alternative treatments include chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage therapy. Keep in mind that most insurance plans will require a referral from your primary care provider before you can see any type of specialist, including alternative medicine providers.
Additional questions to ask your insurance provider before receiving holistic, homeopathic, or alternative medicine treatments:
- Does this care need to be pre-authorized or pre-approved?
- Do I need a referral from my primary care provider?
- What services, tests, or other costs will be covered?
- How many visits are covered and over what period of time (for example, 6-10 visits per year of acupuncture)?
- Is there a co-payment?
- Will the therapy be covered for any condition or only for certain conditions?
- Will any additional costs be covered, such as lab tests, dietary supplements, equipment, or supplies?
- Will I need to see a practitioner in your network? If so, can you provide me with a list of practitioners in my area?
- If I use a practitioner who is not part of your network, do you provide any coverage? Are there any additional out-of-pocket costs?
- Are there any dollar or calendar limits to my coverage?
It can be tricky to understand which services are covered and under what circumstances. A service representative at My Health Insurance Washington would be happy to do the investigating for you and to explain your plan’s benefits and limitations in terms you understand.
