# ACA and alternative medicine **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aca-and-alternative-medicine/670129 "2013-10-01T20:07:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aca-and-alternative-medicine/670129/1 "2013-10-01T20:07:32Z")
So let’s say I believe in alternative medicine and not traditional medicine. So I go to acupuncturist and chiropractors. I take bio-identical hormones and herbs and not synthetic hormones and drugs. I’ve heard that those things are covered under ACA but how far down the alternative spectrum are insurance companies supposed to go. Will my cupping and ear-candling sessions (every Wednesday after a new moon) be covered and by whom? Am I misinformed and insurance doesn’t need to cover these things? Can I as a conciencious objector to modern medicine be excused from ACA so I have the money to pursue my own method of health care? ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aca-and-alternative-medicine/670129/2 "2013-10-01T20:11:25Z")
I assume if it is perscribed treatment recommended by a licensed medical doctor, it is likely on the schedule of covered procedures? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aca-and-alternative-medicine/670129/3 "2013-10-01T20:35:00Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So let’s say I believe in alternative medicine and not traditional medicine. So I go to acupuncturist and chiropractors. I take bio-identical hormones and herbs and not synthetic hormones and drugs. I’ve heard that those things are covered under ACA but how far down the alternative spectrum are insurance companies supposed to go. Will my cupping and ear-candling sessions (every Wednesday after a new moon) be covered and by whom? Am I misinformed and insurance doesn’t need to cover these things? Can I as a conciencious objector to modern medicine be excused from ACA so I have the money to pursue my own method of health care? I’d guess that if it’s not something a normal insurance plan covers (i.e. based in science), they’ll tell you to foot the bill yourself for your crystal treatments and other woo. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aca-and-alternative-medicine/670129/4 "2013-10-01T21:04:35Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I’d guess that if it’s not something a normal insurance plan covers (i.e. based in science), they’ll tell you to foot the bill yourself for your crystal treatments and other woo. Many insurance plans cover acupuncuture and chiropractors. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aca-and-alternative-medicine/670129/5 "2013-10-01T21:45:02Z")
You have a lot of questions. 🙂 > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So let’s say I believe in alternative medicine and not traditional medicine. So I go to acupuncturist and chiropractors. I take bio-identical hormones and herbs and not synthetic hormones and drugs. I’ve heard that those things are covered under ACA but how far down the alternative spectrum are insurance companies supposed to go. By “are supposed to go” do you mean “are required to go”? The mandatory coverages are described here: [Information on Essential Health Benefits (EHB) Benchmark Plans | CMS](http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Data-Resources/ehb.html) They vary by state. I doubt that the things you listed are “essential” in any state. I looked up MO and the benchmark plan does not cover Acupunture, and the notation include exclusions for: “acupuncture, holistic medicine, homeopathy, hypnosis, aroma therapy, massage and massage therapy, reiki therapy, herbal, vitamin or dietary products or therapies, naturopathy, thermograph, orthomolecular therapy, contact reflex analysis, bioenergial synchronization technique (BEST), iridology-study of the iris, auditory integration therapy (AIT), colonic irrigation, magnetic innervation therapy, electromagnetic therapy, and neurofeedback.” So none of those things have to be covered. > [@](#): > > Will my cupping and ear-candling sessions (every Wednesday after a new moon) be covered and by whom? It can be. But it doesn’t have to be. Whether there will be alternative medicine friendly plans on the marketplaces remains to be seen. They will still have to cover the EHB. > [@](#): > > Am I misinformed and insurance doesn’t need to cover these things? Can I as a conciencious objector to modern medicine be excused from ACA so I have the money to pursue my own method of health care? You can not be excused from the ACA in the sense that you will not be able to purchase coverage that doesn’t mean the EHB guidelines. Of course, you are not required to purchase any insurance at all, you can always pay the tax penalty. And you are also not required to consume any health resources. ETA: I’ll add that in Missouri Chiropractics does appear to be covered by the benchmark plan. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aca-and-alternative-medicine/670129/6 "2013-10-01T23:18:15Z")
Obamacare doesn’t radically change the type of services that are covered or not. Most private insurance will cover most of what a chiropractor does (Medicare only covers adjustments) but may put yearly caps on services or require authorization. Medicare won’t pay for acupuncture at all, some private insurance will, in some cases only for specific diagnosises. Herbs, cupping, ear candling,- forget it, not covered by insurance now or under Obamacare.