Health insurance covers many aspects of healthcare, including preventive care, screenings, and prescriptions. In fact, having insurance gives access to many types of treatments and even support services.
However, there are some healthcare services not everyone knows may be covered by their insurance provider.
Here are five interesting benefits your health insurance may offer.
5 Benefits Your Health Insurance May Offer
If you have health insurance, there’s a good chance you’re not taking advantage of all the benefits it offers. From preventive care to prescription discounts, your health insurance likely has a lot to offer.
1. Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is separate and distinct from medical care. However, it’s an important method many people use to help with back pain, posture correction and general well-being.
This means it falls under the healthcare umbrella of many insurance providers.
For example, if you work for a government organization, you may be eligible for chiropractic services for state workers. Whether chiropractic care is covered and to what degree depends on a few factors. These include the state in which you live and what company provides your insurance policy.
2. Fitness Incentives
Most healthcare plans provide additional perks outside of direct medical care. The majority of these have something to do with encouraging people to exercise or lose weight.
Your policy may provide discounts on gym memberships or fitness classes. There are even insurance premium credits for having a gym membership, subsidized membership fees and massages.
You’ll need to provide proof, such as receipts or a copy of your membership card to receive these benefits or be reimbursed for anything.
3. Holistic Healthcare
Holistic healthcare is becoming more popular and well-known. This type of healthcare is considered separate from western medicine, similar to chiropractic care.
It’s primarily based on traditional Eastern healing practices. In fact, two of the most well-known services are fire cupping and acupuncture. It also encompasses spiritual counseling, yoga classes, and mindfulness.
Holistic healthcare is still not covered by the majority of health insurance plans. Our advice, carefully review your policy to confirm whether the holistic healthcare services you’re interested in are covered.
4. Mental Health Services
Traditionally, mental health services weren’t as easily accessible as other types of healthcare. This, however, is changing.
In fact, mental health services are now covered by the vast majority of health insurance policies. Still, you should always review your policy to confirm what mental health services are covered by yours.
The most commonly covered services include:
- counseling,
- substance abuse treatment,
- screenings for mental disorders such as depression and anxiety,
- preventive services,
- inpatient services.
5. Nutritional Counseling
While many insurance providers include fitness incentives, they’re also starting to cover nutritional and dietary counseling.
In fact, it is available in half of the states in the U.S. and typically involves referrals to professional nutritionists and dieticians. Depending on your health insurance plan, you may be able to be referred to a nutritionist for several reasons.
Some plans may allow you to request a referral for weight loss or interest in dietary changes such as transitioning to veganism. Others, may only allow you to be referred for specific illness-related or allergy-related dietary needs, such as diabetes or celiac disease.
Conclusion
Have you taken advantage of any or all of these benefits included in health insurance policies? If not, it’s time to explore your health insurance plan and see what options are available to you.
Remember, while these benefits are commonly offered by various insurance providers, coverage is not guaranteed. You should regularly review your health insurance plan to determine what, if any, additional services are available to you.
It may take a little effort on your part to find a healthcare provider who offers the service you need. However, with so many great benefits available, there’s no reason not to take advantage of them. Doing so could improve your overall health and well-being.
Our super author here at Famous Parenting and an absolute wealth of knowledge. She has studied many topics including creative writing, psychology and journalism but her real passion lies in raising her 3 children. Between working from home, homeschooling her youngest 2 children and navigating the world of teenagers she is a guru for parents.
