5. What financial questions should I ask the practitioner?

Here are some questions to ask the practitioner or his office staff:

• Do you accept my health insurance?

• Do I file the claim forms, or do you (the provider) take care of that?

• What is the cost for an initial appointment?

• How many treatments will I need?

• How much will each treatment cost?

• Can I receive treatment for a trial period to see if the therapy works for me before I commit to a full course?

• Will there be any additional costs?

It can also be useful to ask which insurance plans the practitioner accepts, in case you become interested in changing plans at some point (for example, through a change of employment).

If you do not have insurance coverage for treatment, and paying the full fee each time would be difficult for you, you might ask:

• Can your office arrange a payment plan so that my costs are spread out over a longer period of time?

• Do you offer a sliding-scale fee? (A sliding-scale fee adjusts charges based on a patient's income and ability to pay.)

For more information on seeking treatment from a practitioner, consult the NCCAM fact sheet "Selecting a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Practitioner." (See "Resources.")

6. What about CAM insurance coverage that may be offered through employers?

If CAM coverage is offered, it is usually one of the following types:

• Higher deductibles. A deductible is a total dollar amount that the consumer must pay before the insurer begins making payments for treatments. Under this type of policy, CAM coverage is offered, but the consumer pays a higher deductible.

• Policy riders. A rider is an amendment to an insurance policy that may change coverage in some way (such as increasing or decreasing benefits). You may be able to purchase a rider that adds or expands coverage in the area of CAM.

• A contracted network of providers. Some insurers work with a group of CAM providers who agree to offer services to group members at a rate lower than that offered to nonmembers. You pay out of pocket for treatment, but at a discounted rate.

Employers negotiate with insurance companies for plan rates and services. This is done on a periodic basis (usually annually). You may wish to let your company's benefits administrator know about any coverage preferences you have. If your company offers more than one plan, evaluate carefully what each one offers, so you can pick the plan that best meets your needs.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a Federal agency, has helpful publications about choosing and using a health insurance plan (see "Resources").

7. Does NCCAM have a list of insurance companies that cover CAM?

As a medical research organization, NCCAM does not collect this kind of information and, therefore, does not have a list of companies that cover CAM. The following suggestions may be helpful:

• Talk to your family members, friends, and coworkers about their experiences with insurance companies and plans.

• Check what your state insurance commissioner's office (see Question 3) has to offer. Many provide consumer publications, such as summaries of basic information about the health insurance companies operating in the state and/or ratings of those companies. Note that commissioners' offices do not provide recommendations or advice on specific companies.

• An insurance broker (an agent who sells policies for a variety of companies) may also be a resource.