Does Health Insurance Cover Acupuncture?

Introduction
When I started my acupuncture practice in the Hudson Valley town of Rosendale, NY in 2001, I was very optimistic about the future of the acupuncture profession in regards to more health insurance covering acupuncture treatment. There has been progress, but it has been much slower than I imagined. Although there is more health insurance coverage for acupuncture now than there was when I started 19 years ago, it is still the exception that health insurance plans cover acupuncture.

Health Insurance Companies That Cover Acupuncture
However, there is reason for optimism, as there are some notable exceptions in New York State. Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield has excellent coverage for acupuncture, and has expanded that coverage to include many more diagnoses over the past ten years. NYSHIP, the health insurance plan for New York State employees, recently added acupuncture coverage to its benefits. The Kingston Trust Fund/Magnacare also has an acupuncture benefit. Some of the plans administered by CDPHP, MVP, Cigna, Aetna, and EmblemHealth cover acupuncture --  I generally advise patients to call their health insurance carrier and check on the benefits of their particular plan. I make it a priority to become an in-network provider with any health insurance plan that covers acupuncture, because my goal is to make acupuncture treatment accessible to as many people as possible.

Use No-Fault Insurance to Get Acupuncture Treatment for Car Accident Injuries
Many people are not aware that no-fault insurance covers acupuncture after an auto accident. Acupuncture is a highly effective way to recover more quickly from any injuries sustained in a car accident, and I want more people to know that this is an option for them. Mileage to and from appointments is also reimbursable by no-fault.

Does Worker’s Compensation Cover Acupuncture?
Recently New York State allowed Licensed Acupuncturists to become Worker’s Compensation Board certified and treat those with injuries sustained in the workplace. I am excited to be able to offer acupuncture to this group of people now as well. Over the years I have had to give disappointing news to many people who hoped that acupuncture was covered by Worker’s Comp - it is fantastic that I won’t have to do that anymore!

Does Medicare Cover Acupuncture Treatment?
In January 2020, it was announced by the Federal government that the national health insurance program Medicare will soon start covering acupuncture for low back pain. The coverage will be for 12 sessions in 90 days, with the possibility of another 8 sessions if the treatment is shown to be helping the patient. This is an exciting development, and hopefully the start of the expansion to insurance coverage for acupuncture on a national level. Because Medicare is a federal program and acupuncture is regulated on the state level, my understanding is the details of the roll-out of this coverage are currently in progress. So many people with Medicare could benefit from acupuncture; this is one of the most exciting developments in the realm of insurance coverage in my time as a licensed acupuncturist.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Acupuncture
Additionally, many people now have Health Savings Accounts, where the money can be used for a variety of health care expenses, including acupuncture. For these patients I am able to generate an itemized receipt that can be submitted to the HSA if needed. Other patients have out-of-network benefits that they can apply to acupuncture. In that case, I submit a bill and their insurance company reimburses them directly.

The Future of Health Insurance and Acupuncture
It is my hope that more health insurance companies start to recognize that there is the potential for tremendous savings if they start covering acupuncture -- if just one person is able to avoid a surgery or avoid getting addicted to pain medication they will have paid for their acupuncture treatments for the year and then some. 

I support organizations that work to expand insurance coverage for acupuncture and promote the profession generally. I am a member of ASNY, the Acupuncture Society of NY, which lobbies in Albany for policies that benefit the acupuncture profession, as well as the American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA), which promotes the highest standards of professional practice for Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine in the US.  If you as a consumer would like to see more insurance coverage for acupuncture, let your carrier know that this is important to you - hearing from the public is an important part of making this change happen.