It is a variety of therapeutic or preventative health care methods that differ from standard medical practice.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine can be described in many ways.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
defines CAM as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine. Medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses. Conventional medicine (also called Western or allopathic medicine) is medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) and D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses. The boundaries between CAM and conventional medicine are not absolute, and specific CAM practices may, over time, become widely accepted.
To read more about CAM you can visit:
NCCAM
Do you have alternative therapy coverage with your insurance policy?
Although popular, they still are not accepted as part of traditional medicine and therefore are for the most part not covered under most healthcare insurance plans.
Alternative therapies include:
Homeopathy,
naturopathy,
acupuncture,
acupressure, holistic healing, hypnosis, spiritual healing,
chiropractic therapy, and herbal and vitamin therapies, among others.
If your approach to health and wellness finds these methods appealing more than traditional medicine, then alternative therapy insurance should be looked into. For the most part, these plans are offered through group health insurance, and only as a discount plan (in which you receive discounted rates for these treatments, but are responsible for the majority of the expense).
Regardless of your feelings regarding these 'alternatives' to conventional medicine, it is important to completely research and carefully evaluate prior to making any decision.
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