I know you came here because you want to get relief from musculoskeletal pain through counterstrain therapy. You already have a health insurance plan and want to get insurance coverage. You want to know: will I get insurance coverage or not for counterstrain therapy? All your answers are here.
What is counterstrain therapy?
Counterstrain therapy is a gentle manual therapy technique that is generally used to reduce or treat musculoskeletal discomfort (for example, pain in the muscles or joints, etc.). A physical therapist uses this technique to find out the location of pain and treat any pain or discomfort that you have by using only their gentle hands and small adjustments in your body.
This technique was developed in 1955 by an osteopathic physician named Lawrence Jones. It is a effective approach to relieve discomfort and keep them pain-free.
Is counterstrain a safe therapy?
Counterstrain therapy is considered a safe and easy treatment method. It has a low risk of negative outcomes, according to the relevant evidence. The majority of counterstrain therapy side effects are minor, such as soreness or bruising at the treatment site.
It is safe and effective for almost everyone, even the weakest patients, like older women or men with extreme pain in any part of the body.
This technique is generally used to treat muscle strain, muscle pain, chronic pain, joint pains, somatic dysfunction, back Pain, sports injuries, postural issues, etc.
This therapy is for whom?
- Musculoskeletal Pain: People who experience musculoskeletal pain, such as back pain, neck pain, joint pain, and muscle stiffness, may find counterstrain therapy helpful. It can be used to reduce pain and enhance musculoskeletal function in general.
- Sports Injuries: Counterstrain therapy can provide relief to those who are suffering from sports-related injuries.
- Chronic pain: without using medicine or doing any surgeries It can reduce or stop your pain and improve your quality of life.
- Surgery Recovery: Can be effective after the operation or surgery for the recovery process.
- Aged person: Can help older adults who may experience musculoskeletal problems, such as arthritis or joint stiffness, etc.
- Men, Children and adolescence
- Women: therapy can assist pregnant women to remove or reduce discomfort associated with pregnancy, such as back pain and pelvic pain.
- And Much more
Insurance Coverage
Insurance coverage depends on your insurance provider, policy type, and state regulations. To determine coverage, it’s better to consult with your insurance company and carefully review their policies. Also, contact the clinic where you will go for treatment and talk with them about coverage.
As you know, counterstrain therapy falls under physical therapy, and generally, insurance companies provide coverage for it, while some do not.
If your treatment is medically necessary, then you may easily get coverage. You can either get full coverage or some part of it if your insurance plan covers this type of coverage.
In some cases, your insurance company may require preauthorization or prior approval before you can receive the coverage. So you contact your healthcare provider because your health care provider will initiate preauthorization if it is mandated by your insurance provider.
Here, we can’t tell you directly because different plans have different policies, and coverage depends on many factors. However, it is always an excellent move to call your insurance company, talk with them, and ask them, Is counterstrain therapy covered by my insurance plan or not? So that you can get a full confirmation of coverage. Also, after getting confirmation from the insurance company, you must talk to the clinic where you will go for treatment and explore whether they work with your insurance company or not. Additionally. After knowing all these facts, you can freely go to that clinic, and you can get coverage for the treatment.
Insurance companies sometimes provide full coverage, or sometimes some part of it. In that case, you may have to pay out-of-pocket costs.
Which insurers cover physical therapy?
A lot of health insurers, including private and commercial insurance companies and U.S. government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, cover all or a portion of physical therapy services. Private health insurers usually cover a part of the cost of the therapy.
Alternatives When Not Covered
If your insurance plan does not cover counterstrain therapy, don’t lose hope. Consider the following options:
- Pay with your own money through negotiation. Some therapists may offer flexible payment options and flexible pricing. It will be a good idea to discuss pricing directly with the therapist in order to negotiate.
- Explore nonprofit organizations that offer this service at a low cost.
- Compare the pricing of different clinics. Go there, where you are getting good service at a low cost.
Costs Without Insurance?
Counterstrain therapy is a manual and hands-on approach to pain relief, but it is not always covered by insurance. When not covered, costs can vary depending on location, provider, experience, and session duration. A single session may cost between $60 and $150 on average, and a full course of treatment may require multiple sessions. For exact pricing, it is better to discuss pricing with your chosen counterstrain therapist and check pricing and payment plans.
Conclusion
Counterstrain therapy is a hands-on approach and safe treatment option for a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, somatic dysfunction, muscle strain, muscle pain, back pain, sports injuries, etc. It is a low-cost treatment option. Generally, companies provide coverage for it and sometimes not, so to confirm, call your insurance provider and also talk to the clinic where you go for the treatment. Do not go for treatment without confirmation about the coverage; otherwise, you may have to pay the hospital’s fees with your own money. If counterstrain therapy were covered by insurance, it would be more accessible to patients, potentially leading to lower healthcare costs. If your plan does not provide coverage, you can read our alternatives.