Does Insurance Cover Acupuncture? A Brooklyn Patient’sGuide to Costs and Coverage

One of the most common questions before booking a first acupuncture appointment has nothing to do with
needles at all: will insurance actually cover this? The honest answer is that it depends heavily on your specific
plan, but acupuncture coverage has expanded significantly in recent years, and many Brooklyn patients are
pleasantly surprised by how affordable treatment becomes once benefits are applied.
Insurance Plans Commonly Accepted
Bonafide Acupuncture accepts a wide range of major insurance plans, including Cigna, Aetna, Oxford Health
Plans, United Healthcare, BlueCross BlueShield Association plans, Magnacare, NYSHIP, and 1199 SEIU.
No-fault insurance is also accepted for acupuncture related to auto accident injuries, and the practice
participates with ClassPass and accepts Groupon offers as well, giving patients several paths to more
affordable care.
Why Checking Your Specific Benefits Matters
Even within the same insurance company, coverage for acupuncture can vary significantly between individual
plans, some cover a generous number of visits per year with no referral needed, others require a referral or
prior authorization, and some plans exclude acupuncture entirely. Rather than assuming coverage based on
your insurance company’s name alone, it is always worth calling the number on the back of your card or having
the clinic verify your specific benefits before your first visit.
Questions Worth Asking Your Insurance Provider

• Does my plan cover acupuncture, and if so, how many visits per calendar year?
  
  Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor first?
• Is there a copay, and if so, how much per visit?
• Does my plan require the visit to be tied to a specific diagnosis code?
• Is there a deductible that needs to be met before coverage kicks in?
  What if Acupuncture Is Not Covered?
  If your specific plan does not cover acupuncture, or you do not have insurance, self-pay options and package
  pricing are typically available, and many patients find the value of consistent treatment worth the investment
  even without insurance involved. It is also worth checking whether you have a Health Savings Account or
  Flexible Spending Account, since acupuncture is generally an eligible expense under both.
  No-Fault Coverage for Injury Cases
  If your pain stems from a car accident, no-fault insurance in New York often covers acupuncture as part of
  injury recovery treatment, frequently without the copays associated with regular health insurance. If this applies
  to your situation, mention it when booking so the office can guide you through the specific paperwork involved.
  Let Bonafide Acupuncture Help You Navigate It
  Figuring out insurance benefits can feel like its own project, and the team at Bonafide Acupuncture is happy to
  help verify your coverage before your first visit at either the Prospect Heights or Bay Ridge location. Call (702)
  907-7171 or book online, and mention your insurance provider so the front desk can check your benefits ahead
  of time.