More health insurance plans are covering acupuncture to treat chronic pain and other symptoms. Find out when it’s covered.
Acupuncture has come a long way since it was first introduced in the United States. Today, it’s an alternative health care treatment that’s often integrated with traditional medical care.
Medical professionals may prescribe acupuncture to treat a variety of symptoms. It’s popular among people who have chronic back, neck or knee pain. Acupuncture can also help prevent nausea associated with chemotherapy and surgery.
Acupuncture is a health practice that originated in China. There are different types of acupuncture. They all include using needles placed under the skin to stimulate points in the body and ease symptoms.
Acupuncture has changed over the years. Today it’s much different from the ancient form and also much safer. For example, instead of re-using silver and gold needles, practitioners use safer disposable needles. Practitioners today may also apply heat and mild electrical impulses to needles to improve results.
Acupuncture may not be right for your condition. Here’s how to find out if you could benefit from treatment:
The risks of acupuncture are relatively low when you see a certified practitioner. But treatment can cause serious side effects if it is not done properly. Side effects may include infection, bleeding, punctured organs and injury to the central nervous system.
You should avoid acupuncture if you:
Electrical impulses can interfere with its operation
In some cases, acupuncture could start labor and cause premature delivery
These can increase your chances of bleeding or bruising from needle insertions
You don’t need to do anything special to prepare for your session. During your first treatment, the practitioner will ask questions about your symptoms and may examine parts of your body where you feel pain.
The treatment causes little discomfort. Here’s how it works:
You may need more than one treatment to manage your symptoms. It could take as many as six to eight treatments. How often you need treatment depends on your condition and symptoms.
Some people say they feel relaxed after treatment. Others say they have more energy. It might take a few days before you notice a change in your symptoms. But if they don’t improve within a few weeks, you may need to try other treatment.
Some Blue Cross health plans cover acupuncture when it is medically necessary and prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe acupuncture to treat:
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.
This is general information about how plan benefits work. Review the Summary of Benefits and Coverage and your specific health plan benefit booklet for information about how your plan works.
It’s up to you to always check if your provider is in your health plan network before you receive services. Not all providers are in every network. You may pay more or for all of your healthcare costs if your provider is out of your network or does not have a contract with Blue Cross (this is called a non-participating provider). You can verify if your provider is in your network by calling customer service at the number on the back of your member ID card.