Private health insurance for acupuncture
On this page
- Is acupuncture covered by private health insurance?
- Which insurers cover my acupuncture?
- How to claim for acupuncture on your insurance
- Receipts and invoices
- Commonly asked questions about insurance and acupuncture
1. Is acupuncture covered by private health insurance?
Many private health insurance policies in the UK include cover for acupuncture when it is carried out by a fully qualified and registered practitioner. As a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) — the UK's leading professional body for acupuncturists, overseen by the Professional Standards Authority — my treatments are recognised by a wide range of insurers.
Whether your policy covers acupuncture, and the extent of that cover, depends on your individual policy terms and the insurer you are with. Some policies cover acupuncture as standard; others require it to be added as an optional extra. Cover limits — such as the number of sessions or the maximum amount reimbursable per year — also vary between providers. It is always worth checking your policy documents or calling your insurer directly before booking, to confirm what you are entitled to claim.
If your insurer is not listed below, it is still worth contacting them directly, as cover for complementary therapies is becoming more widely available and your policy may include it. You can also ask your insurer to check whether I am recognised as a BAcC-registered practitioner.
2. Which insurers cover my acupuncture?
The following private health insurance companies are known to cover acupuncture treatments provided by me. For a full list of insurers that recognise British Acupuncture Council members, please contact your insurance company directly or download the BAcC private insurance guide.
- Aviva
- AXA Health (formerly AXA PPP)
- Benenden Health
- CS Healthcare
- Engage Mutual Assurance
- Exeter Family Friendly
- General & Medical Healthcare
- Healthshield
- HSF Health Plan
- Medicash
- National Friendly
- Simply Health
- Sovereign Health Care
- Vitality Health (formerly PruHealth)
- Westfield Health
- WHA
- WHCA
- WPA
This list is not exhaustive and insurers regularly update their policies. If your insurer is not shown here, please contact them directly to ask whether they cover acupuncture from a BAcC-registered practitioner.
3. How to claim for acupuncture on your insurance
Claiming for your acupuncture sessions is a straightforward process. Before your first appointment, I recommend taking the following steps.
Step 1 — Check your policy. Contact your insurer or log in to your online account to confirm that your policy includes cover for acupuncture. Ask specifically whether the treatment must be carried out by a BAcC-registered practitioner, and confirm any limits that apply to your cover — such as the maximum number of sessions or the annual reimbursement limit.
Step 2 — Obtain authorisation if required. Some insurers require pre-authorisation before treatment begins. If your insurer requires this, contact them before your first appointment and quote my name and BAcC membership number. They may also ask for a GP referral letter in some cases.
Step 3 — Attend your appointments. I provide receipts after each session detailing the date, treatment provided, the fee paid and my BAcC membership number — everything your insurer will need to process your claim.
Step 4 — Submit your claim. Submit your receipts to your insurer according to their claims process — typically online, by post or via their mobile app. Most insurers will reimburse you directly once your claim has been processed.
Please note that I do not bill insurers directly. You pay for your treatment at the time of each appointment and reclaim the cost directly from your insurer using the receipt I provide. This is the standard arrangement with most complementary therapy claims.
4. Receipts and invoices
After each appointment I will provide you with a receipt that includes all the information your insurer will need to process your claim. This includes my full name and professional title, my BAcC membership number, the date and location of the treatment, the type of treatment provided and the fee paid. If your insurer requires any additional information on the receipt — such as a specific reference number or diagnosis code — please let me know in advance and I will do my best to accommodate this.
If you need a formal invoice rather than a receipt — for example, for a corporate healthcare account or flexible spending arrangement — please request this at the time of your appointment.
5. Commonly asked questions about insurance and acupuncture
Do I need a GP referral to claim for acupuncture on insurance?
This depends on your insurer and your individual policy. Some insurers allow you to self-refer for complementary therapies such as acupuncture, while others require a GP referral letter before they will authorise cover. Check your policy documents or contact your insurer before your first appointment to confirm what they require. If a GP referral is needed, your GP should be able to provide one on request.
How many acupuncture sessions will my insurance cover?
This varies between insurers and individual policies. Some policies cover a fixed number of sessions per year — commonly between six and twelve — while others set a financial limit rather than a session limit. A small number of policies offer unlimited complementary therapy cover subject to clinical need. Check your policy details or call your insurer to find out what applies to you.
Can I use my insurance for Chinese herbal medicine as well as acupuncture?
Cover for Chinese herbal medicine is less common than for acupuncture, but some insurers do include it. If you are interested in using your policy for herbal medicine consultations, contact your insurer and ask whether they cover treatments provided by a member of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM), of which I am also a member.
What if my insurer is not on your list?
The list above is not exhaustive. If your insurer is not shown, it is still worth contacting them directly to ask whether they cover acupuncture from a BAcC-registered practitioner. Insurance policies change regularly, and many providers that did not previously include complementary therapies now do so. The British Acupuncture Council website also maintains up-to-date information on insurers that recognise BAcC members.
Can I use a health cash plan for acupuncture?
Yes — health cash plans such as those offered by Healthshield, HSF, Medicash, Simply Health and Westfield Health typically allow you to claim cash back on a range of complementary therapies including acupuncture, up to an annual limit. These plans are distinct from traditional private medical insurance and do not require a diagnosis or GP referral. Check your cash plan booklet or contact your provider to confirm the amount you can claim per session and per year.
Do you offer any other ways to pay?
In addition to private insurance, I accept payment by cash, debit card and bank transfer at each appointment. Gift certificates are also available if you would like to give acupuncture as a gift to a friend or family member — these can be purchased via my online booking page. For full details of my treatment fees, please visit the treatment prices page.
