Here in this article you will find whether your medicare covers acupuncture an alternative therapy.

Medicare as a part of health care system covers many health care costs. You can choose whether to have Medicare cover only, or a combination of Medicare and private health insurance. Citizens and most permanent residents are eligible for Medicare and the system has three parts: hospital, medical and pharmaceutical.

Acupuncture is an alternative way to help people to manage the pain as well as, additional benefits like some people take help from acupuncture to quit smoking. In the various countries like china, in United States, and many European countries acupuncture is a form of complementary or alternative medicine. With time demand for treatment is increasing with rise in percentage of people getting relief with acupuncture. Acupuncture still lacks widespread acceptance in this United States and various countries, especially by insurance companies. It costs high with around $120 per session. With this out of pocket costs for acupuncture can make people wondering that does acupuncture is covered by Original Medicare?

If you are looking for the acupuncture coverage by medicare. The simple answer is Original Medicare does not cover acupuncture. Remember Medicare offers some coverage for physical, occupational, and speech therapy but no acupuncture until now. Under Original Medicare, you will pay 100% of the costs for acupuncture treatment.

Does Medicare Cover Acupuncture 2016

Acupuncture coverage in Medicare Health Insurance

Acupuncture is an “alternative therapy” but has not been scientifically proven to be helpful as either an analgesic, anesthetic, or for other therapeutic purposes. Therefore, Medicare beneficiaries have to pay 100 percent for their treatment when acquiring this type of service.

The most popular Medicare federal health insurance is insurance program for people who are above 65 years of age, certain younger people with disabilities, and those with chronic Renal Disease or permanent kidney failure.
Medicare has been categorized into part A, B, C. Medicare Part A covers hospital charges, trained nursing facility care, hospital care, and some home health care. The Part B covers doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical equipment, and preventive services. The Part C aims to merge services from Part A and Part B.

Original Medicare Part A and Part B do not cover acupuncture. The Medicare beneficiaries who have Medicare Part A and Part B have to pay the full cost of acupuncture service that they receive.

Why Medicare not cover acupuncture?

Here a question arises that why does Medicare not cover acupuncture? Although acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in China and for decades in parts of Europe, according to Medicare's Coverage Issues Manual it is a new agent of unknown use and efficacy in the United States. Even in those areas of the world where it has been widely used, its mechanism is not known. Therefore Medicare is not covering acupuncture as a health care benefit.

As stated above, in the Medicare policy acupuncture is not considered as a kind of medical treatment. Even though acupuncture is certified method and even school with standard rules to learn about it, acupuncture is still seen as alternative healing system only. The Medicare health insurance Part C has the possibility to cover traditional healing method, but as far it only covers chiropractic healing. The general rule says, Medicare does not cover any acupuncture treatment since it is not considered to be medical treatment. However, for those who favor acupuncture and desire to save some money, Medicare under certain situations may cover acupuncture as treatment method.

The conditions are associated with the necessity of acupuncture for recovery. If acupuncture seems the only way of cure as per recommendation of professional, a physician, and that Medicare, it may possibly cover the Medicare category. Another exception causing acupuncture Medicare health insurance is by ensuring that the practicing persons are professionals. So all the patients really need is the patience and patient’s right.

Even though there is possibility that under some conditions Medicare insurances cover acupuncture, it does not mean that it is all free. There is no set plan in acupuncture treatment therefore; it may not have a full coverage and service taker still have to pay percents of the fee.

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