Hey all, I’ve been thinking about seeing a naturopathic doctor (ND) for some health issues, but I’m not sure if insurance will cover it. I know it varies by state and plan, but it’s all a bit confusing. Do NDs usually take insurance, or do you pay upfront and get reimbursed later?
Depends on where you live. In some states like Washington or Vermont, NDs are covered by insurance, and they can even act as primary care docs. But in other places, you’ve gotta pay upfront and submit a superbill to get reimbursed. Best bet is to call your insurance company to check.
@Zev
Thanks. Didn’t even think about checking state laws. Do most insurance plans need pre-authorization for ND visits?
@Zev
Yeah, some do. You might need pre-authorization, especially if your insurance only covers specific treatments. Best to ask your insurance or the ND’s office directly.
I had to pay upfront, but my insurance reimbursed me after I sent them a superbill from the ND. It took a bit to get the money back, so just make sure you’ve got enough to cover it first.
Heath said:
I had to pay upfront, but my insurance reimbursed me after I sent them a superbill from the ND. It took a bit to get the money back, so just make sure you’ve got enough to cover it first.
Good to know, thanks for the heads-up. How long did it take for the reimbursement?
Heath said:
I had to pay upfront, but my insurance reimbursed me after I sent them a superbill from the ND. It took a bit to get the money back, so just make sure you’ve got enough to cover it first.
About a month. Make sure you keep all the paperwork, especially a letter of medical necessity if your ND gives you one. That helped me get reimbursed.
In my state, NDs aren’t covered at all, so I had to pay everything out of pocket. It’s frustrating, but I think some plans are changing. Definitely check with your insurance to see what they cover.
Also check if standard lab tests ordered by your ND are covered. In my case, the ND wasn’t covered, but my insurance still paid for the lab work, which saved me some cash.
Ashby said:
Also check if standard lab tests ordered by your ND are covered. In my case, the ND wasn’t covered, but my insurance still paid for the lab work, which saved me some cash.
Good point. Didn’t think about the lab tests. Do you just submit those like any other medical bill?
Ashby said:
Also check if standard lab tests ordered by your ND are covered. In my case, the ND wasn’t covered, but my insurance still paid for the lab work, which saved me some cash.
Yep, just submit it like normal. As long as your insurance covers the tests, they’ll pay for it.
Worth noting that Medicare doesn’t cover NDs at all, so if you’re on Medicare, you’ll have to pay out of pocket. Hopefully, that changes at some point.