Since acupuncture is considered an alternative medicine and non-drug therapy, you may have questions about whether your insurance policy will cover such a method of treatment. It’s known as an effective form of treatment for various conditions, including chronic pain, migraines, fertility, and even weight loss. Therefore, many people seeking relief in these areas are willing to give acupuncture a go. Still, there could be more clarity when it comes to insurance coverage.
How Much is Acupuncture without Insurance?
There are a lot of variables in the cost of acupuncture, with and without insurance. The fees at each acupuncture clinic will range, depending on the service you’re receiving and other factors. Typically, the range is about $50 and up to $150. Cigna, Humana, Aetna, United Health Care, Landmark, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield are insurance companies that will sometimes cover acupuncture.
Insurance Coverage at Cloud 9
Although most people don’t, some will require a referral from your primary care physician depending on your individual insurance policy. The amount of the co-pay will vary, starting at $0 and including $15, $20, $30, or $40. Acupuncture is not always a covered benefit under every insurance policy. However, patients are often surprised to find out their plan does cover acupuncture as an additional wellness benefit.
Depending on your individual insurance policy, some patients will be required to pay an annual deductible. Occasionally, an individual insurance policy will waive the deductible for acupuncture services. Out of network patients pay full price and seek direct reimbursement payment from their insurance company. We are approved participating providers in network with all forms of Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, Johns Hopkins EHP, and Aetna insurances.
How to Review Your Insurance Policy
The Cloud 9 team is here to help answer any questions about insurance coverage. In addition, we encourage our patients to verify their acupuncture benefit coverage under their individual insurance policy and we’ll help you understand the fine print and what it all means for your treatment. Cloud 9’s biller will outline the following:
- Whether or not acupuncture is a covered benefit under your current individual insurance policy, and if there are any exclusions to this acupuncture coverage in the fine print.
- Co-pay or Co-insurance expected payment at the time of service.
- Deductible, whether or not it’s been met and if not, how much of the yearly deductible remains, or if the deductible is waived for acupuncture services. Usually, once the deductible has been met, the patient is only responsible for the co-pay and/or the co-insurance payment each visit.
- Whether pre-authorization is needed prior to initial treatment.
- Approved number of visits per year, and the beginning of the year for this individual policy.
To verify acupuncture insurance benefits before your session, please give us a call at 443-521-3583 or email the following info to: acupunctureByLaura@gmail.com:
- Which insurance company your policy is with (We are an approved provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Johns Hopkins EHP, and Aetna).
- Your full name and Date of Birth, and the Primary policy holder’s full name and Date of Birth (if not you).
- The Insurance Member ID # on the front of the insurance card.
- Provider Tel. # on the back of the card.
If you do not have insurance, we take Health Savings Accounts, Medical Flex Spending, Visa, MC, Discover, personal checks and cash.
Most acupuncture points are located on the 12 primary channels that flow along the surface of the body. However, there are eight Extraordinary Vessels that flow more deeply in the body, and are perhaps even more powerful that the 12 primary channels. The Extraordinary Vessels regulate the 12 channels, and are deep lakes of energy, which can feed the 12 primary channels when they are depleted. 
