Will my health plan cover complementary or alternative treatments?
Check with your health plan before you seek treatment to see if it’s covered. In most cases, therapy must be considered safe, effective and medically necessary to be covered. Your plan may also cover treatment only when it’s prescribed by your doctor.
If your health plan doesn’t cover the cost of alternative therapies, you may be able to pay for some qualified treatments using funds from your health savings account (HSA). For example, you can use money from your HSA to pay for chiropractic and acupuncture services, but not aromatherapy or herbology.
Here are some questions to ask when you contact your plan:
- Does my plan cover this treatment for my health issue?
- Do I need to get pre-approval or a prescription for this treatment?
- Do I need a referral?
- Do I need to see a practitioner in my plan network?
- Will I have coverage if I go out of network?
- Are there limits on how many visits or how much you will pay for this treatment?
- How much will I need to pay out of my own pocket?
Be sure to keep copies of any bills or letters you receive from your plan and practitioner in case you need them to resolve claims issues.
Blue Cross is here for your health
Blue Cross and Blue Plus make it easy to get answers to your health questions. If you’re a member, you have online access to doctors and a variety of health resources at your fingertips. Log in to your member site to find a doctor and see ‘wellness’ for your resources.
If you do not have health insurance, Blue Cross and Blue Plus offer a range of health plans to meet your needs and budget. All health plans include preventive care coverage along with tools and resources to help you stay healthy and protect the health of your entire family. Talk with an agent or connect with a Blue Cross Advisor to learn more.