Does Medicare Cover Naturopathic Care?

Naturopathy and naturopathic medicine have caught the attention of many people. This includes many seniors. That is because of the health benefits it brings and the fact that it seems to have few side effects.

Also natural medicine and treatment aim to treat not just symptoms, but the body itself. This can help prevent suffering from many ailments. So a common question many people have is, “does Medicare cover Naturopathic Care?” In this article, we answer the question in clear, plain English. You will also find the average costs of Naturopathic care, as well as other helpful info.

Does Medicare Cover Naturopathic Care?

The short answer is rarely. In most cases, Medicare will not cover the cost of naturopathic care. That said, there may be some situations where you can get these costs covered. Below we’ll take a closer look at this to see when you might be able to get Medicare to pay for your naturopathic care.

Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) does not usually provide coverage for naturopathic care.

But recently, Medicare started to cover acupuncture to reduce dependence on opioid painkillers. However, the coverage that they offer for acupuncture is only limited to treating chronic lower back pain.

Another naturopathic care Medicare covers are chiropractic services. However, they will only cover chiropractic services when it aims to correct a misaligned spine.

Medicare also covers nutrition counseling, but only if you are suffering from certain conditions such as diabetes or kidney ailments.

Even though Original Medicare does not cover naturopathic care, Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) may provide naturopathic care coverage. Medicare Advantage plans cover everything Original Medicare covers along with some additional benefits.

Advantage plans can differ on what they cover and how much they’ll pay for certain treatments. Contact your plan provider to see what their naturopathic care coverage is like. Or, search for a new plan that may better fit your needs.

What Is Naturopathic Treatment?

Naturopathic medicine is an alternative way of treating a condition through natural means. It tackles broad medical and health issues such as allergies, digestive problems, hormonal imbalance, chronic fatigue syndrome, and many more.

Naturopathic treatment aims to strengthen the body, the mind, and the spirit to allow it to heal itself. It can be achieved through low-force interventions. However, before they can strengthen the mind, the body, and the spirit, naturopathic doctors first need to find out the root cause of the illness.

Unlike in traditional medicine, naturopathic treatment is less invasive.

Here are some services that a naturopathic doctor offers:

Botanical Medicine
Clinical and laboratory diagnostic testing
Nutritional medicine
Acupuncture
Chiropractic services
Homeopathy
Intravenous and injection treatment
Nutrition diet planning

Though some conditions require surgery or chemotherapy, you can still use the help of naturopathic treatment for support. It can help decrease side effects and increase the operation’s effectiveness.

Traditional medicine and naturopathic care do not necessarily contradict each other. One can very much enhance the other.

Note: Medicare coverage changes all the time. And your specific coverage may vary from plan to plan for Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans. Always be sure to double check with your health care provider and/or Medicare insurance provider about what your plan covers and what it does not.