Does Your Insurance Cover Acupuncture? – Marilyn Yohe

Slowly, as acupuncture becomes more more accepted by the Western medical community, health insurance coverage for acupuncture is growing.

The reasons for this are many. More and more studies are being published that validate the effectiveness of acupuncture for various conditions, and consumers increasingly want — and will shop around for — health plans that cover acupuncture.

Recent health care reforms that emphasize cost-effective treatment will accelerate this trend. Compared with most of Western medicine, acupuncture is a low-tech, low-cost way to deal with many health conditions. Indications are that insurance companies would save significantly by covering acupuncture, especially for conditions such as back pain, migraines, and infertility.

Do I Take Your Insurance?

Currently I am able to accept insurance for several carriers. Most companies have some plans with acupuncture benefits and some without; the first step is to call your insurance company and ask whether you have coverage.

I am currently able to bill the following insurance plans directly:

Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Cigna
Optum/United Health Care

I will also bill auto insurance for treatment of accident-related injuries.

If your insurance plan is not on my list, please talk to me and I’ll do my best to help you use your benefits.

Legislation in Massachusetts

A bill that would improve insurance coverage of acupuncture is ready to be voted on in the MA House of Representatives — it just needs to be released from committee and allowed to come up for a vote.

The bill would ensure that licensed acupuncturists are reimbursed for treatment along with medical doctors, and would establish a commission to explore the integration of acupuncture with Western medicine under the new health care laws.

If you’re inclined, it would really help if you contact your legislators about this. For more information on the bill, how to support it, and who to call, click here. (That article says you need to call by July 15, but any time before the 31st is still helpful!)

Thanks for your support!

Testimonials

“Marilyn is patient, knowledgeable, compassionate, and incredibly dedicated to helping others. Her acupuncture treatment has helped me to stabilize symptoms of IBS, anxiety, hip pain, and sleep difficulties, when little else seemed to work. She is truly holistic and client-centered in her approach – with her respectful, open approach to acupuncture and healing, I always feel as if our work is a collaboration. Thank you, Marilyn, for all you do!” Catherine, Somerville

“I came to Marilyn with health problems conventional clinicians had told me they could do nothing about. After only a few sessions, these have resolved and I feel healthier than I have in years. At each visit, Marilyn attends to my health concerns with care and insight. Acupuncture has exceeded my expectations and Marilyn is a gem. I highly recommend her.” Tali, Cambridge

“I initially contacted Marilyn about acupuncture as a last resort, thinking that it couldn’t make my chronic pain (migraines, fibromyalgia) any worse – though being very needle-phobic, I was concerned I might not be able to sit still for a treatment. Not only did seeing Marilyn allow me to have pain-free days, it significantly reduced the frequency & severity of my symptoms and drastically improved my quality of life. Instead of a last resort, acupuncture has become my go-to solution for anything from irregular menstrual cycles to a head cold. In addition, the needles are so tiny, I wasn’t bothered by them the way I am at the doctor’s office, which was a huge relief.” Adrian, Jamaica Plain

“I believe Marilyn was a crucial part of my recent successful IVF cycle. Two months before, I had been told I had poor oocyte quality. My doctor said I should consider donor eggs. Two months of acupuncture with Marilyn, and I had perfect eggs, where seven out of nine retrieved eggs fertilized. I am now fourteen weeks pregnant from that cycle. I know Marilyn’s warmth, expertise, and skill played a large part in improving my egg quality and preparing my body to be receptive to a pregnancy.” SK, Cambridge

“I worked with Marilyn during the darkest and most difficult period of my life. I was physically ill and emotionally fragmented, terrified, and beyond vulnerable. Marilyn was patient, generous, deeply compassionate, humble, curious, and willing to collaborate with me so that I felt safe and comfortable during the treatments. She listens with her ears and her hands and her intuition, and on her table I tasted a sense of deep rest and healing that I hadn’t felt in years. I am extremely grateful to her and her gifts.” D, Cambridge

Testimonials

Tali, Cambridge

Adrian, Jamaica Plain

SK, Cambridge

D, Cambridge

Testimonials

“Marilyn Yohe makes me feel cared for from the moment I walk into her office. She’s inquisitive and knowlegeable and always helpful in the ‘problem solving’ aspects of intervention and treatment. I see Marilyn whenever I can because I see the results: in both the mechanics of my body and my state of mind, her treatments help me feel more relaxed, more whole, more well. I don’t hesitate to recommend her.”

Chloe, Somerville

“Marilyn Yohe has been treating me for a serious and recurring stress/autoimmune disease and inflammation-related conditions. Drugs have never worked for me. Her treatment has worked to fundamentally move my body into health. Marilyn uses her knowledge and skill in listening, feeling, and being aware of the whole of me. A much more complete picture than that used in Western medicine. She uses that information with a balance of restraint, aggression and adjustment. She does not work on me or at me, she works with me.”

Pat, Cambridge

“I was at the end of my rope with my IBS issues, so I figured that it couldn’t hurt to try acupuncture -- though as a scientist, and as someone who works in the pharmaceutical industry, I was pretty skeptical. I could not have been more pleasantly surprised with the results! Suddenly, I could eat things that were previously bothering me. My gut felt calmer, and much less likely to have a painful episode. I could take public transportation or get stuck in traffic without fear of an unexpected GI disaster. It was so amazing to feel like a “normal’ human being! My family, friends, and even my scientific colleagues were impressed with my results, and more importantly, my stomach was happy. I literally haven’t felt this good in years. I would recommend acupuncture to anyone and everyone!”

Kelley, Quincy

“Marilyn helped me so much during this time with acupuncture and Chinese medicine. I really believe that these treatments helped me to gain strength and conceive a healthy pregnancy after my miscarriage. I continued regular treatments throughout my first trimester as an effort to help the pregnancy “stick” and in my opinion, it was certainly a success!”

Charise, Sudbury