If you’re looking to use insurance, we’ll reveal which insurance companies will pay for acupuncture treatment, And if you’re looking for a specific treatment for weight loss, back pain, infertility, or migraines, we’ll also give you an idea of what you can expect to pay for those treatments.
Contents
- How Much Does Acupuncture Cost?
- Typical Costs
- Discounts
- Total cost
- How to find low cost acupuncture (please consider the quality before consider low cost)
- Which insurance companies cover acupuncture?
- Acupuncture Cost by City
- Cost by treatment type
- For infertility
- For Weight Loss
- For Back Pain
- For Migraines
- Additional costs to consider
- Tips for shopping for acupuncture
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Does medicare cover acupuncture?
- Does medicaid cover acupuncture?
- Do Medicare supplemental insurance plans cover acupuncture?
- Will my insurance cover acupuncture?
Typical Costs
Fees for your first session of acupuncture may include an initial consultation, medical exam, and acupuncture treatment. This will cost between $120 to $240. Additional visits may cost $75 to $160.
Discounts
Many acupuncturists offer a discount when you purchase multiple treatments. So for example, if you were to purchase one session at $150 or six sessions at $600, bringing the price down to $100 per session.
Other popular discounts are:
- Student discounts
- Senior discounts
- Child discounts
Ask your acupuncturist if they offer any of these discounts to get a better price on your treatments. For example, in Atlanta, an acupuncture treatment will cost $120, but a student discount brings it to $85, and for a child, it’s only $65.
Total cost
According to consumer reports , people spent more than $200 out of pocket over the course of their full treatment for acupuncture and almost one in four spent $500 or more.
How to find low cost acupuncture
Non-profit community acupuncture clinics are gaining popularity. These clinics, like Phoenix Community Acupuncture , offer low cost acupuncture on a sliding scale, $17-$35. Look for a community acupuncture clinic in your area to find low cost acupuncture.
Which insurance companies cover acupuncture?
The following insurance companies may cover your acupuncture, depending on your plan. Be sure to check with your insurance provider to verify coverage before seeking treatment. Your acupuncturist may also be able to assist you.
- Aetna
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- Cigna
- Humana
- Johns Hopkins EHP
- Kennedy Krieger’s Core Source
- Landmark
- Optum
- United Health Care
Acupuncture Cost by City
Methodology
These prices estimate the costs you may expect to pay for acupuncture without insurance. To determine these prices, we sampled acupuncturists listed in the Google business directory in each area.
Cost by City
| City | Acupuncture Session Cost |
| Atlanta | $80 |
| Austin | $85 |
| Baltimore | $90 |
| Boston | $100 |
| Charlotte | $80 |
| Chicago | $95 |
| Cincinnati | $100 |
| Cleveland | $85 |
| Columbus | $75 |
| Dallas | $85 |
| Denver | $125 |
| Houston | $160 |
| Indianapolis | $95 |
| Kansas City | $75 |
| Las Vegas | $70 |
| Los Angeles | $120 |
| Louisville | $85 |
| Memphis | $75 |
| Miami | $120 |
| Milwaukee | $90 |
| Minneapolis | $120 |
| Nashville | $100 |
| New Orleans | $85 |
| New York | $300 |
| Oklahoma City | $75 |
| Philadelphia | $95 |
| Phoenix | $75 |
| Portland | $150 |
| Raleigh | $75 |
| Richmond | $90 |
| Salt Lake City | $75 |
| San Diego | $108 |
| San Francisco | $150 |
| San Jose | $85 |
| Seattle | $135 |
| St Louis | $60 |
| Tampa | $125 |
| Washington DC | $160 |
Cost by treatment type
For infertility
If you suffer from infertility, plan to pay a lot of money to increase your chances of getting pregnant. A typical acupuncture program for fertility might last three to six months, with treatments every week. Plan for a major portion of your expenses upfront with various diagnostic tests running from $160 to $325, which may include:
- Male hormone panel
- Female hormone panel
- Estrogen ratio test
- Adrenal salivary index
- Salivary food sensitivity panel
Sample infertility costs
Initial Visit $150
Female hormone panel $325
Estrogen ratio test $200
Herbs ($150 monthly) $900
Weekly acupuncture for 6 months $1,680
___________________________________________________________________
Total Cost $3,255
For Weight Loss
If you need to lose some weight, acupuncture could help. Weekly acupuncture was shown to improve weight loss in this study. If you figure three months of acupuncture to accompany your exercise regime, you’d spend $840 or more depending on the per session cost.
For Back Pain
If you consider testimonial and anecdotal evidence, some people have used acupuncture to become free from pain in has few as 24 sessions. If you figure on a cost per session of $70 to $150, that amounts to $1,680 to $3,600.
However, some research suggests the effects of acupuncture on pain are temporary. In this case, you might need weekly acupuncture on an ongoing basis, resulting in a cost of $280 to $600 monthly for your back pain.
For Migraines
The same situation is true from migraines as back pain. Considering that you may need ongoing acupuncture treatment to relieve the pain associated with you migraines and keep them at bay, you may need to plan on spending anywhere from $280 to $1200 for weekly or bi-weekly acupuncture treatment.
Additional costs to consider
Here are some additional costs you may need to consider before purchasing an acupuncture treatment.
- Herbs and supplements. Many acupuncture clinics will recommend patients take Chinese herbs or other supplements as part of their treatment program. These will always cost additional money above and beyond your acupuncture treatment, ranging from $30 to $150 monthly.
- Tui Na. Your treatment may begin with an optional Tui Na session. This is similar to massage, but with a therapeutic emphasis, rather than relaxation. You may be charged extra for Tui Na.
- Gratuity. With most bodywork, you may be expected to leave a tip for your practitioner; somewhere between 10-20%. Some clinics encourage gratuity while others discourage it.
Tips for shopping for acupuncture
- Ask your friends for a recommendation.
- Research online.
- Read online reviews.
- Understand the practitioners training and specializations.
- Call and ask for an introductory session. (Don’t forget to ask about what insurance they take)
- Go to your first appointment and evaluate the doctor and the office.
- Make a decision to return or keep looking for an acupuncturist you like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does medicare cover acupuncture?
No. Medicare does not cover acupuncture.
Does medicaid cover acupuncture?
No. Medicaid does not cover acupuncture
Do Medicare supplemental insurance plans cover acupuncture?
Some Medicare supplemental insurance plans provide coverage for acupuncture treatment but most don’t offer coverage.
Will my insurance cover acupuncture?
While many insurance companies are beginning to cover acupuncture, most plans that do are higher cost plans. If you have had chronic pain for six months and the traditional forms of treatment, like drugs or physical therapy have been ineffective, there’s a higher chance your insurance will cover your acupuncture treatments.
Virginia Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine 