Insurance Coverage for Naturopaths

I got this tonight from our group leader. I left off the names of the people who sent it for their privacy.


"I know many of us with Lymes go to naturopaths. Also, many of us have to pay full price out of pocket because insurance refuses to pay. Well, the ACA just threw us a bone. Please pass this along to anyone you know with Lymes.

Please go to the Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians at:
http://www.oanp.org/page/InsuranceComplaints

According to the new ACA act, it is now illegal for insurance companies to deny your naturopathic doctor claims. This is true for all ND's across the country as the ACA is a national law. So, this isn't just an Oregon thing.

Many insurance companies do not know this and I didn't either till my last visit to the ND. The exact section from the ACA act as well as a legal interpretation of it is on the site I mentioned.

You'll still have to argue with your insurance company (I have United health Care and it sucks), but you now have legal regress to get them to pay at least for your office visit (minus copay).

I have copied a small section from the OANP website below:

"Insurance Companies May No Longer Discriminate Against NDs
for Same Services - It's the Law!

The provider non-discrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act went into effect on January 1, 2014. Insurance plans issued on or after this date are now prohibited from treating naturopathic physicians differently from other providers when the ND is treating the same conditions or performing the same services that the insurer would otherwise cover.
After almost a year of OANP working with Oregon’s Insurance Division in advance of this law going into effect, it appears that the majority of insurers and insurance plans are in some way still violating this law.
OANP’s Board has already begun filing complaints.
We need your help too!"

I'm in WA too. I'm not sure if there is something that can be printed. I just got the email about it before I went to bed last night and wanted to post it then so I wouldn't forget about it. Maybe try the web site they listed to see if they can direct you.

I hope you can get covered.

Say what!!!!! I'm going to file my claims and see what I can get back! That would be great...even if its just for the office visit!

I'm in WA also.  Good info to have since I pay out of pocket every 8 weeks for me and my daughter.

Maybe I can look into it more this weekend. My main do is both an MD and ND, so insurance covers him already. That's the main reason we went to him and he sent my daughter in for a Lyme test right away. We didn't know anything about Lyme before that.

Sorry about the broken water main! Better than a pipe in the house at least.

I'm confused by the ACA. Aren't there doctor's that don't have to participate if they don't want to (any doctor not just a NP)? There were a number of top ranked hospitals as well as doctors who aren't participating in the ACA.