Does insurance cover naturopathic services?
Are there ways I can use my insurance plan at your office?
What type of insurance do I need in order to submit a claim for naturopathic services?
Will my labs be covered?
Will my supplements or remedies be covered?
What can I do to help with coverage of naturopathic services?
Does insurance cover naturopathic services?
- Currently in the State of Minnesota there are no insurance companies allowing in network naturopathic services or any law requiring insurance companies to cover naturopathic medicine, nor do they voluntarily cover naturopathic services
- However some insurance plans may reimburse for naturopathic visits
- Read below for what type of plans may see reimbursement for naturopathic medicine
Are there ways I can use my insurance plan at your office?
- As the patient, you can prepare a health insurance claim form and submit it to your insurance company requesting reimbursement for each of your visit charges
- Payment is due at the time of service
- If your insurance accepts the claim, your reimbursement check will be sent directly to you
What type of insurance do I need in order to submit a claim for naturopathic services?
- Preferred Provider Organization plan or PPO; PPO plans allow you to choose doctors, hospitals, and other providers from the PPO network or from out-of-network.
- We cannot submit claims for HMO plans; HMO plans require you to choose doctors, hospitals, and other providers within the HMO network; currently Naturopathic Doctors in Minnesota are not in network with any insurance plans.
- We cannot submit claims for Medicare plans
- A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a medical savings account, which allows individuals to save money in a tax-free account, naturopathic services are often covered with HSAs. We encourage patients to use HSAs for lab tests as well as natural medicines directly prescribed by one of our doctors.
- A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a benefit provided by some employers
- Other Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA, VEBA, MERP, etc): HRAs are employer funded health benefit plans that can be used for reimbursement of out of pocket medical expenses and individual health insurance premiums. They can only be used to pay medical expenses just like an FSA account.
Will my labs be covered?
- Routine labs through a PPO plan can be done through your insurance, and although insurance coverage is likely, it is not a guarantee (this is true for MD services as well)
- Functional lab testing is often not covered by your insurance but we encourage you to submit a claim for reimbursement for any tests done; it is always best to pay at the time of service for functional lab test kits to assure a prepay rate; if submitted through insurance and not covered the lab may bill you at the higher insurance rate
Will my supplements or remedies be covered?
- FSA, HSA, and other HRA accounts may pay for vitamins or other supplements if prescribed by one of our doctors; a letter of medical necessity is often required for reimbursement so please speak with our doctors so they can provide you with this
What can I do to help with coverage of naturopathic services?
- We suggest that you contact your insurance company and let them know that you would like coverage for naturopathic services
- Speak with your local legislators, agencies, and officials in Minnesota or your home state that are responsible for implementing the affordable care act. Let them know that you want naturopathic doctors under covered services under the nondiscrimination provision
- Talk with your human resource department if your insurance is through your work and let them know you want coverage for naturopathic services
