Alternative therapies can be very important to some patients, especially patients with chronic conditions who want to explore new options in diagnosing and treating their health problems. Unfortunately, alternative therapies and conventional health insurance programs often butt heads. Insurance providers don't want to pay for anything that they don't legally have to pay for, of course, especially if a treatment isn't going to work, and many alternative therapies are untested or experimental enough to cause concern for insurance companies. Fortunately, this isn't always the case, and in many instances, health insurance programs can cover part or all of the costs of alternative therapies.

As with anything else in a health insurance contract, the key is usually a doctor's orders and finding a great policy to begin with. High-quality insurance policies usually allow for a patient to control his or her own care, but many PPO, EPO and HMO programs take a great deal of control over patient therapies and their associated costs. They may deny alternative therapies and insist on more conventional treatments, but usually this will only be the case if the health insurance policy's language specifically precludes a certain type of treatment or if a doctor has recommended a different treatment than the alternative therapy that a patient wants. Health insurance policies may restrict benefits for policy holders in these types of situations, but this only occurs when the insurance contract specifically allows it. It's important to note that any alternative therapies covered by an insurance policy must have an established and relevant medical value. Acupuncture usually won't be covered by an insurance company, for instance, although a visit to the chiropractor's office would sometimes be covered for back pain issues.

To avoid an unpleasant surprise, health insurance policy holders should be careful to shop around before settling on a policy. It's helpful to full read each health insurance quote and to ask plenty of questions when evaluating different health insurance providers. Buyers should ask specific questions about alternative therapies and should clear the treatments with a health insurance provider before visiting an alternative physician or therapist. This helps to ensure that the policy holder knows when his costs are covered, when he will be expected to pay more than an average co-pay, and when an insurance provider will absolutely refuse to pay for treatment. It may also be helpful to discuss insurance coverage with a doctor who is providing an alternative form of care, as the doctor may have more advice for finding coverage. Alternative treatments are by nature complex, but it's certainly possible to pay for them through an insurer.