Alternative Medicine Articles

Does an HSA Cover Alternative Medicine?

A Health Savings Account (HSA) does not really cover alternative medicine. However, there is a bit more to it.

A person using an HSA can withdraw money from this special type of savings account for any type of approved medical expense. Approved by whom? The IRS.

So, the IRS pretty much thinks that proper medical expenses are any types of Western medicine pharmaceutical drugs, surgery, doctor visits, etc.

However, there are a few things on the list that are alternative medical options. Chiropractors are on the list. So is acupuncture.

With acupuncture, it must be considered medically necessary. That means that a doctor (MD or DO) must say that he thinks you should see an acupuncturist and write a prescription for it. Then you can see an acupuncturist and pay for it with the money from your HSA.

But theres one more thing. When you are using an HSA in conjunction with a high-deductible health insurance policy, you start seeing the real costs of everything you do, up until you hit that high deductible each year.

When you start seeing the real costs of Western medicine, at that point, alternative medicine might start to look really good.

Consider the following:

A routine doctor visit done before you meet your deductible may cost you about $100. That is one hundred dollars for about a seven-minute visit. (HMOs like doctors to have short visits with their patients.)

Now think about an alternative medical provider. Lets take a naturopath as an example. A naturopath may charge about $90 for your first visit. That visit will probably take about an hour and a half.

Lets look at the cost in dollars-per-minute:

The doctor visit costs $14.28 per minute.

The naturopath visit costs $1.00 per minute.

You might think a doctor is better qualified to understand your health problems, but do you think they are 14 times better qualified?

Health Savings Accounts will cause all of us to evaluate our options. Well look at all the aspects of Western medicine and alternative medicine (or integrative medicine) and well choose the ones that make the most sense.

Health Savings Accounts will change how we think of health insurance. They are a wonderful tool that almost every American can and should benefit from. And they're available today!

Daryl Kulak is the author of the book "Health Insurance Off the Grid - A Wonderful Way to Use Alternative Medicine and Save Money on Insurance Using the New Health Savings Account (HSA)." The book provides a nine-step plan to get your individual health insurance costs under control using a unique approach you won't find anywhere else. The book is available for sale as an e-Book or paperback at the Website http://www.healthoffthegrid.com

Related Links:

Revolutionary Medicine: Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Pain Sufferers

Isnt It Time For WHOLISTIC Medicine?

Integrative Medicine And Its Future

Latest Alternative Medicine News

Talk About Messing Up My Meditation
25 Aug 2008 at 11:05am
It seems that with each day, a new carcinogenic, or cancer causer, is brought to our collective attentions. If we are not told to stay away from microwaves, be...

Can Vitamin B Protect You from Pesky Mosquitoes?
18 Aug 2008 at 4:49am
Over the years, one of vitamin B's believed benefits is that it will protect you from mosquitoes. Supposedly, vitamin B creates such an unpleasant odor through one's pores that...

What is DHEA and What Should I Know About It?
4 Aug 2008 at 12:48pm
DHEA, short for dehydroepiandrosterone, is a hormone that's produced in the body and is converted into male and female hormones. Our natural DHEA levels typically peak in our 20s and...

Can Saw Palmetto Stop Baldness and Hair Loss?
29 Jul 2008 at 6:00am
A reader asks, What can you tell me about saw palmetto? I read that it's a good herbal remedy for hair loss and baldness. Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens or Sabal...

A Remedy for Scars?
23 Jul 2008 at 3:13am
A reader asks, Is there a remedy to prevent scars? A neighbor swears by honey, but I'd never heard of using it for scars. There are a number of home...

Mood and Food
13 Jul 2008 at 3:23pm
Eating certain foods may improve your mood, research suggests. The Food and Mood Project surveyed 200 people and found that 88% reported that changing their diet had a significant effect...