regarding the monetary costs involved.If you want to try acupuncture, but are concerned about the cost, here are some suggestions:
CHECK YOUR COVERAGE Call your insurer and ask whether your policy covers acupuncture. If it does, press for details.
Find out how many sessions a year it allows and whether a doctor’s prescription is needed. Check whether it allows coverage for only certain conditions. Some policies, for instance, might cover acupuncture only for chronic pain.
TRY A SCHOOL If you must pay yourself, consider discount treatment by an acupuncturist-in-training. Most acupuncture schools have clinics where you can be treated by supervised students at discounted rates of $40 or so for one to two hours. To find a school, go to the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s Web site.
Barbara Andisman, who was told she had two years ago, has been going to the clinic at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in Manhattan once a week for more than a year. She says the treatments help with her balance and energy.
“I have a type of M.S. for which there are no medications; the treatments have been incredible and helped keep me stable,” said Ms. Andisman, 52, who lives in Brooklyn. “If I miss a few sessions I notice a difference. I feel kind of sluggish.”
COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE If your problem is not serious or complicated — say you are suffering from stress or pain — consider visiting a community acupuncture setting, where fees can be as low as $15 a session.
You receive a brief assessment and then are treated, fully clothed, in an open room with other patients. It is the acupuncture equivalent of a chair massage.
To locate a clinic near you, see the Web site of the nonprofit Community Acupuncture Network.
USE FLEX SPENDING Even if your insurer will not reimburse you, your flexible spending account might — if you have one. Using flex-spending dollars to pay for treatments can reduce the cost by 20 percent or so, depending on your tax bracket. Look on your employer’s list of approved expenses to see whether acupuncture is included.
HAVE SOME PATIENCE Acupuncture
often has a cumulative effect. If you have a simple cold or headache, you might feel better after one session. But it might take three sessions before you start to notice an improvement in a muscle strain.Borrowed from: Acupuncture Is Popular, but You’ll Need to Pay By LESLEY ALDERMAN Published: May 1, 2010
