Check Policies Carefully
Unfortunately, because insurance coverage varies widely from state to state and employer to employer, there’s no one resource to track down what the hidden special benefits lurking in your policy may be. Most plans are mandated under the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010 at least to cover partially such benefits as emergency services, hospitalization, prescription drugs, pediatric and laboratory services, rehabilitation and physical therapy, and mental health counseling.
Some states take it one step beyond and require even more benefits, and your company may insert some perks that it believes will help them keep overall premiums down. Some policies will require you to pay upfront and then wait for reimbursement, either full or partial, which may put the brakes on your plans in some cases if you’re struggling financially.
But whether you buy as an individual or through the marketplace, it’s worth perusing your policy to see if the following are covered:
1) Acupuncture: This centuries-old treatment involves inserting thin needles at various pressure points on the body. The goal is to restore the balance of yin and yang by unblocking the rivers of energy known as Qi. Western medicine didn’t pay much attention to acupuncture until the 1970s, but since then, research has proven its benefits for certain conditions, including pain relief, pregnancy nausea, post-operative conditions (including dental surgery), chemotherapy side effects, arthritis, back pain and migraines, among others. As with all insurance issues, make sure you go to a recommended provider and check with the insurance company on what is covered and how to obtain the benefit. You may get discounts up to half-off the price of acupuncture.