Insurance Coverage For Naturopathic Medicine
A growing number of people in the United States wish to use more natural healing methods and are seeking out alternatives to conventional allopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine is one of the fastest growing and most beneficial of these alternatives. Although many people would like to be treated by a naturopathic doctor, they are not because they think that naturopathic medicine is not covered by their insurance. This is not always true. Many insurance companies do cover naturopathic medicine. Those companies that say they do not cover naturopathic medicine, may say this because they do not know how to handle the claims or the claims agents may be unaware of the licensed naturopathic medical profession.
We are not a covered provider on any insurance plan, so we do not offer any insurance billing. There are many reasons for this, but the main reason is because our health-care intentions and philosophies are not at all aligned with the intentions and disease-care philosophies of the current insurance world in the US. We are focused on health, vitality, self healing, prevention, and personal responsibility. We do not feel comfortable allowing an insurance / healthcare system that does not share these same values to be in control of our patients’ choices and decisions when it comes to their personal health. We will, however, provide a receipt with ICD-10 codes and CPT codes for each patient visit if you want to submit a claim to your insurance company yourself.
We are not a covered provider on any insurance plan, so we do not offer any insurance billing. There are many reasons for this, but the main reason is because our health-care intentions and philosophies are not at all aligned with the intentions and disease-care philosophies of the current insurance world in the US. We are focused on health, vitality, self healing, prevention, and personal responsibility. We do not feel comfortable allowing an insurance / healthcare system that does not share these same values to be in control of our patients’ choices and decisions when it comes to their personal health. We will, however, provide a receipt with ICD-10 codes and CPT codes for each patient visit if you want to submit a claim to your insurance company yourself.
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Here is some info on how to get insurance coverage for naturopathic medicine.
In the state of Arizona, naturopathic physicians are licensed to practice medicine. Therefore, unless your insurance policy specifically excludes naturopaths, by law they must cover the services. Because naturopathic physicians are usually not included on the list of covered providers, the reimbursement you will receive will usually be an “out of network” reimbursement. To find out if your insurance company will cover your naturopathic medical services, there are a few things you can do. |
1. Look at your policy.
If the “Definition of Physician” in your policy does not specifically either exclude naturopathic physicians, or limit the definition to specific providers other than naturopaths, then you should, by law, be covered for your naturopathic services.
2. Call your insurance company.
The following are a few suggestions of what to say/ask while on the phone:
Naturopathic physicians are primary care physicians licensed to practice medicine in many states.
If your policy covers naturopathic medical services, simply file your claim as you would any other medical claims. Your naturopathic physician can provide you with any necessary diagnostic codes, procedure codes, etc.
If your policy does not cover naturopathic medical services, you can try to modify your policy. Most insurance companies will write a plan to cover naturopathic medicine, but you must request the coverage, depending on if your plan is an individual plan or a group plan.
Individual Plan
Ask your agent to add coverage for naturopathic services. There may be a small charge for this service ranging from nothing to a few cents per month.
Group Plan
Most insurance companies do not charge anything extra to cover naturopathic services on a group plan. Tell this to your employer, union, or human resources director, and ask that naturopathic physicians be added to your plan. If necessary, organize and educate your coworkers on the value and benefit if naturopathic medicine.
If the “Definition of Physician” in your policy does not specifically either exclude naturopathic physicians, or limit the definition to specific providers other than naturopaths, then you should, by law, be covered for your naturopathic services.
2. Call your insurance company.
The following are a few suggestions of what to say/ask while on the phone:
- Does my policy cover services performed by a licensed naturopathic physician?
(they will typically say no, because many agents are unaware of what naturopathic medicine is)
- Does the “definition of physician” in my policy specifically exclude naturopathic physicians?
(ask them to fax you a copy of the definition)
- Does the definition limit services to specific health care providers? Which ones?
Naturopathic physicians are primary care physicians licensed to practice medicine in many states.
If your policy covers naturopathic medical services, simply file your claim as you would any other medical claims. Your naturopathic physician can provide you with any necessary diagnostic codes, procedure codes, etc.
If your policy does not cover naturopathic medical services, you can try to modify your policy. Most insurance companies will write a plan to cover naturopathic medicine, but you must request the coverage, depending on if your plan is an individual plan or a group plan.
Individual Plan
Ask your agent to add coverage for naturopathic services. There may be a small charge for this service ranging from nothing to a few cents per month.
Group Plan
Most insurance companies do not charge anything extra to cover naturopathic services on a group plan. Tell this to your employer, union, or human resources director, and ask that naturopathic physicians be added to your plan. If necessary, organize and educate your coworkers on the value and benefit if naturopathic medicine.