Health insurance covers homeopathy, etc?

[Jr1985]

Hello,

I recently signed up for health cover through my job. I noticed that amongst all of the conventional treatments (optical, dental, etc), that it also covers homeopathy, osteopathy (not sure if woo?), acupuncture and chiropracty.

Is this standard practice with insurance companies? Do you think it's worth complaining about, since less money spent on woo-woo means more money spent on real treatment?

[lionking]

It's the same in Australia. Very frustrating.

[Jr1985]

You would think insurance companies would want to spend their money on something that actually works.

The other thing is, physiotherapy was lumped in with the woo-woo I mentioned above, which I would find quite insulting, if I were a physio.

[Tomtomkent]

Funny, as if anybody wanted homeopathic treatment I would recommend they took out some insurance...

[Skeptic Ginger]

Bunch of woo believers pushed the legislature in this state to make health insurers cover alt med scams. It's disgusting.

[brodski]

You would think insurance companies would want to spend their money on something that actually works.


Not really, from their point of view "it works" regardless of the fact that these things are medically inert, they are cheap and if they are used for self limiting conditions, but ones which could be shortened by more expensive real medicine, then the insurance company is saving money.

[23_Tauri]

Not really, from their point of view "it works" regardless of the fact that these things are medically inert, they are cheap and if they are used for self limiting conditions, but ones which could be shortened by more expensive real medicine, then the insurance company is saving money.
Which I believe is pretty much the same lame argument put forward by the Government in the UK as to why homeopathy is available on the National Health Service. :mad:

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Not really, from their point of view "it works" regardless of the fact that these things are medically inert, they are cheap and if they are used for self limiting conditions, but ones which could be shortened by more expensive real medicine, then the insurance company is saving money.

I am even more cynical than this. ;)

If someone has a pain in their gut and goes to a homeopath and is prescribed some distilled water but then dies six weeks later, the insurance company is out $27.50

If someone has a pain in their gut and goes to a real doctor, he may be sent for an X-ray, MRI, etc. This could discover he has a real medical problem and leads to hospitalization, an operation, and other expensive medical treatment. This could cost the insurance company thousands of dollars. And the client lives to make more claims!! :(

[Ravenplucker]

I am even more cynical than this. ;)

If someone has a pain in their gut and goes to a homeopath and is prescribed some distilled water but then dies six weeks later, the insurance company is out $27.50

Ahh, the wonders of natural selection. :rolleyes:

[dlorde]

Which I believe is pretty much the same lame argument put forward by the Government in the UK as to why homeopathy is available on the National Health Service. :mad:

Last time I heard a justification it was "people want it, and it's harmless..." :covereyes

[devnull]

It's the same in Australia. Very frustrating.

Indeed.

[Last of the Fraggles]

Which I believe is pretty much the same lame argument put forward by the Government in the UK as to why homeopathy is available on the National Health Service. :mad:

It's a line of argument I have some sympathy with. After all, if its just timewasters that are being sent to homeopathy to stop them wasting real doctors time then it probably saves the NHS money in the long run.

On the other hand, promoting it and legitimising it probably means that people with real conditions actually think it might work.

There must be a better way to address timewasters than this?

[brodski]

Which I believe is pretty much the same lame argument put forward by the Government in the UK as to why homeopathy is available on the National Health Service. :mad:

DH tend to talk about "patient choice". NHS doctors OTOH often use it to shut up the "worried well" or on the TEETH principle. (Tried Everything Else, Try Homeopathy ".

[Malfie Henpox]

It's a line of argument I have some sympathy with. After all, if its just timewasters that are being sent to homeopathy to stop them wasting real doctors time then it probably saves the NHS money in the long run.

On the other hand, promoting it and legitimising it probably means that people with real conditions actually think it might work.

There must be a better way to address timewasters than this?

This.

My ex, who is otherwise intelligent, thought it must work as the NHS wouldn't have it otherwise. We had quite a big argument. I spent hours printing out reports from the internet. She eventually agreed with me, but I suspect only to shut me up. She just wouldn't accept that the NHS would waste money on Woo. Which isn't all that an irrational conclusion, after all.

[rjh01]

As Kinglion says these things are covered in Australia. However there is a limit to how much you can claim ($200-500pa). Below is a quote of what is covered.


Ref: http://www.medibank.com.au/healthcover/forms-and-brochures/MPL_Health_insurance_brochure.pdf
Consultations for myotherapy, reflexology, kinesiology, Chinese & Western herbalism, exercise physiology, shiatsu, aromatherapy, homeopathy, Bowen therapy & Alexander technique

[jhunter1163]

Typically in the States, osteopathic treatment per se is covered to a limited extent (although osteopathic docs have the same standing as MDs, are required to have the same amount of schooling and take the same licensing exams), as is chiropractic. Acupuncture and naturopathy are generally covered to a VERY limited extent, and homeopathy is usually not covered at all. The AMA is not very tolerant of woo and they're the ones who write the guidelines for the insurance companies.

[puppypundit]

I keep trying to get my employer to give me an "opt-out" clause for the bunk remedies. Why should I pay real money to insure fake treatments?

[MrBooglemaumau]

Label on a packet of 'Rescue Remedy' for sale in our local chemist shop [a REAL one]...' contains homeopathic ingredients'..$29.95..I guess that's the price of the packaging.....Homeopathy,there's nothing in it !