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Holistic Insurance and Savings

June 16, 2008

More and more people these days are interested in complementary and alternative and health modalities (CAMs) offered by holistic practitioners. In fact, more than 50% of adult Americans use such modalities, both as a sole means of wellness and in conjunction with conventional medical practices.

Despite the growing interest in these health options, and despite growing clinical evidence regarding the efficacy of many such approaches, the insurance industry has been slow to add CAM options to their coverage. The reasons for the slow transition are enough to warrant a separate article on the topic.

But things, they are a-changin’. Chiropractic services, once considered strictly alternative and not covered by insurance, are today covered by many insurance policies to one degree or another. Acupuncture - used for thousands of years in the East - has now been scientifically validated at least for back pain, and is sometimes covered by insurance as well. As other CAMs demonstrate their efficacy through clinical studies and/or scientific research, they’ll no doubt be added as well, if insurance continues in its present form.

But there will always be CAMs that aren’t covered because they are either too difficult to study objectively or because they’re too new to the marketplace or because they are threatening the golden lining in someone’s pocket. (We can’t pretend that special interests play no role in the situation.)

This doesn’t mean that people finding benefits from these CAMs shouldn’t be allowed to choose them. They’ll simply have to pay out of pocket.

This is where third-party holistic savings options come in. When something isn’t covered by traditional insurance, third-party options can step into place and provide holistic discounts. This can be done in one of at least two ways:

1) through a structure like other insurance providers, with high monthly fees, paperwork, and the need to maintain coverage at all times in exchange for substantial savings; or

2) through a low-cost membership that brings clients and practitioners together with moderate savings. The latter method may charge clients, practitioners, or both, depending on its structure.

Whatever forms they take, we believe these services will become popular in the coming years, as they will provide something that’s already desired by most of the population and that insurance companies have been slow to provide. As an alternative health practitioner myself, I know how many people want our services covered by insurance. With third-party options, I can show them how to save.


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By Steve McCardell

Steve McCardell is a holistic health practitioner and founder of the Holistic Discount Network (http://www.holisticdiscounts.com), which is an alternative to holistic insurance. The network provides holistic savings to its members at all participating practitioners. Practitioners can join the network for free.

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