Hypnosis has a range of science-backed health benefits. This leads many people to wonder if hypnotherapy is covered by Medicare or private insurance. In many cases, hypnotherapy is not covered by Medicare. However, sometimes private health insurance will cover part of your hypnotherapy costs. But, typically, there are requirements that you must meet.
In this article, we discuss Medicare coverage for hypnotherapy. We also explore what requirements you may need to meet to receive coverage from your private insurance. We talk about your options if you can’t afford traditional hypnotherapy. And we discuss how you can receive hypnotherapy for anxiety, depression, weight loss and more at a fraction of the cost of traditional hypnosis. Let’s get started!
Hypnotherapy and Medicare Coverage
So what will Medicare cover? Generally speaking, Medicare will not pay for any portion of your hypnotherapy by default. However, Medicare does have a billing code for hypnotherapy. This means that Medicare has the infrastructure to pay for hypnotherapy in some cases. Medicare coverage for hypnotherapy typically occurs with a diagnosis that’s covered under the insurance plan.
For example, chronic pain may be covered under your Medicare plan. If you have a doctor’s referral for hypnotherapy as a part of your pain management plan, Medicare may cover some of the hypnotherapy costs.The same goes for Medicare hypnotherapy coverage for anxiety. Medicare Part B covers outpatient mental health services. If your hypnotherapy is a part of your outpatient mental healthcare, medicare may cover some of the costs.
However, it’s best to speak with Medicare directly. You can contact them at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to discuss your plan’s coverage. We suggest speaking with them before you begin your sessions. You should also ask your healthcare provider about billing Medicare for your hypnotherapy. In some cases, your doctor will need to get Medicare approval before billing them for it.
Hypnosis is still considered an “alternative therapy.” So, it’s best to look to Medicare Part C for coverage. Compared to the “original Medicare” plans (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B), Part C encompasses the Medicare Advantage Plans. These plans provide more coverage for health and wellness services as well as alternative therapies. If you’re unsure about where to start, we recommend checking out medicare.gov.
Hypnotherapy and Private Health Insurance
Many private insurance companies will cover a portion of your hypnotherapy if it is deemed medically necessary. Medically necessary conditions may include chronic pain, depression, anxiety, sleep issues, weight loss, smoking cessation, and more. Your insurance may cover somewhere between 50 percent to 80 percent of your bill. Although, this varies widely depending on your insurance company, plan, and condition.
Some insurance companies will only cover hypnosis if it’s used in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy or other types of psychotherapy. (And in fact, some practitioners incorporate hypnosis into psychotherapy for insurance reasons.) Other insurance companies still consider hypnosis “experimental.” These companies will not cover it at all.
Just like you would with Medicare, it’s best to speak with your private insurance company and your health practitioner directly.
What to Do if You Can’t Afford Traditional Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis can help a range of health conditions—from phobias and eating disorders to weight management and quitting smoking. And hypnosis has little to no side effects. But traditional hypnotherapy (with or without insurance) can be expensive.
But, we have some good news. If you can’t afford traditional hypnotherapy, there’s another option: hypnosis apps.
Hypnosis apps may, in fact, be the best option for most people, whether they can afford traditional hypnotherapy or not. Hypnosis apps are significantly less expensive than in-person hypnotherapy.
Most annual subscription fees cost less than one hypnosis session. (The cost of a session will depend on hypnotist expertise as well as where you live. For example, a hypnosis session will cost more in a state with a high cost of living, like New York or California.)
Plus, you pay one fixed price (or no price at all), no matter how many hypnosis sessions you do. This means you get significantly more bang for your buck than you would with an in-person hypnosis session.
You also avoid the other costs associated with going to an in-person appointment, like the cost of transportation, possibly taking time off of work, and (if this applies to you) childcare. That’s why hypnosis apps are great when you need affordable hypnotherapy for anxiety, overeating, or to quit smoking, for example.
Using Primed Mind for Hypnotherapy at Home
When you can’t or don’t want to attend in-office hypnotherapy sessions, try a hypnosis app like Primed Mind. Primed Mind is free to download and was developed by one of the world’s leading mindset coaches. It lets you reap the benefits of hypnosis at home (or wherever you are!) from your tablet or phone. Just like a traditional hypnosis session, you receive hypnotherapy from accomplished hypnotherapists and hypnotists.
These hypnotists use the same process as they would during an in-person hypnosis session by inducing you into a hypnotic state of mind, making helpful suggestions to your subconscious mind (which guides you into productive thought and behavior change), and then leading you out of your hypnotic state gently and safely. You’ll not only finish a Primed Mind session with a readiness to make positive change in your life, but chances are you’ll feel a sense of deep relaxation too.
Primed Mind provides a customized experience. It has audio recordings on nearly 100 topics, ranging from improving your sense of determination and resetting your mood to nailing your nutrition goals and dealing with your relatives. The truth is, you may get a more tailored experience using a hypnosis app than you would get in person!.
If you prefer not to deal with the headache of going through insurance to finance your hypnotherapy, or you simply prefer to do hypnosis from the comfort of your own home, try Primed Mind for free!
Adding 5-15 minutes of hypnosis into your regular mental health and wellness routine can make a world of difference!
