Alternative treatments to mainstream medicine in the Western world has come of age in the new millennium and become more than just another answer to health problems. Alternative therapies are now a sought after solution for preventative health care and health care providers are acknowledging this evolution by offering alternative therapy insurance.

What are Alternative Therapies?

Also known as CAM or complementary and alternative medicine, alternative therapies are called ‘alternative’ to identify as outside of the norm. Some of these include:

• acupuncture
• chiropractic care
• massage therapies
• biologic or herbal therapies
• energy healing
• hypnosis
• biofeedback
• meditation
• prayer and spiritual healing

Alternative versus Complementary Therapy

Most patients who take advantage of alternative therapies or treatments, do so in addition to or combination with traditional medicine – rarely as a sole means of healing – to prevent and treat some of the more common illnesses and health problems. The health care industry considers ‘alternative therapy’ to be defined as a patient using an alternative therapy to replace traditional medicine. When these therapies are used in combination with traditional medicine, they are called ‘complementary therapy’.

The Most Commonly Covered Alternative Therapies

It is now standard for insurance companies to provide health insurance coverage for a limited selection of alternative therapies. Because these treatments can prevent some health problems from occurring and therefore reduce health care expenses for both the provider and the patient, it is increasingly more common. The most commonly offered alternative therapies include:

• massage
• chiropractic care
• acupuncture

The Second Most Commonly Covered Alternative Therapies

Usually group employer health plans implement coverage for preventative health care in order to keep down medical costs. The next level of the most commonly covered alternative therapies includes:

• nutrition
• biofeedback
• naturopathy
• homeopathy
• acupressure
• yoga

How Is Coverage Offered?

The usual coverage for an alternative therapy is a discount offered by the health insurance providers instead of full coverage. The policy holder pays a lower billing amount (than would be charged to a non- alternative therapy holding patient) instead of filing for reimbursement.

Who Should Get Alternative Therapy Insurance?

In the United States, $33 billion is spent annually on complementary and alternative medicine, which makes it the most quickly expanding division of the health care industry. However, even with studies showing how alternative therapies lower health care costs, some companies still don’t offer alternative therapy coverage. Anyone who can find supplemental alternative therapy insurance (if their regular coverage isn’t comprehensive) will benefit in saved health care costs in the long run.