How Much Does Craniosacral Therapy Cost?

is craniosacral therapy covered by insurance
is craniosacral therapy covered by insurance

With craniosacral therapy, one price does not fit all – it is not a universally predictable cost from city to city. The same holds true from one craniosacral therapy practitioner to the next.

In this article, we’ll explore the kinds of costs you can expect when you seek craniosacral therapy treatment, the types of discounts you may be eligible for, how to find low-cost craniosacral therapy, and craniosacral therapy costs in some of the major cities.

Also, if you?re considering paying for craniosacral therapy treatment through insurance, we’ll uncover if insurance companies will pay for craniosacral therapy treatment, And if you?re looking for a specific treatment for smoking, or weight loss, we’ll also give you an idea of what you can expect to pay for those treatments.

Typical Costs

Fees for your first session of craniosacral therapy may include an initial consultation and craniosacral therapy treatment. The initial consultation may increase the first treatment cost no matter where you live by $10-$50 more than what a craniosacral therapy practitioner charges per hour for additional treatments.

Some craniosacral therapist offer a free 15-30 minute initial in-person consultation for you to get a feel if you are comfortable working with them and to aide in you finding the craniosacral therapy practitioner for both your health and wellness needs.

If a practitioner does offer a free consultation, you will not have to pay any more for your first session compared to any follow-up sessions you do.

Additional follow up sessions for visits may cost between $70 to $170.

Discounts

Many craniosacral therapy practitioners offer a discount when you purchase multiple treatments or packages. So for example, if you were to purchase one session at $150, through a package of six sessions at $600 you could bring the price down to $100 per session.

Other popular discounts are:

  • Referral discounts

  • Review discounts

  • Student Discounts

  • Child Discounts

  • Elderly discounts

  • Veteran Discounts

  • Teacher discounts

Ask your craniosacral therapy practitioner if they offer any of these discounts to get a better price on your treatments.

Total Cost

The total cost of craniosacral therapy will depend on the type and reason you are seeking craniosacral therapy. Why? Because the number of sessions that you need and the frequency between treatment that you choose to do will impact the total cost you and up spending on craniosacral therapy.

The average number of sessions that is often suggested is three to ten. If you consider the lowest price per session throughout the nation is $70, the lowest overall cost for ten sessions averages out to $700 and at $170 a session, the highest found rate per a session found in the nation, the overall highest cost for ten sessions could be $1,700. It may also potentially cost more. So outside of discounts offered by practitioners and buying a package numbered sessions ahead of time ? there is one other way of bringing down costs for your treatment.

How to Find Low-Cost Craniosacral Therapy

When looking for low-cost craniosacral therapy there are three options:

  1. Sliding scale: Some practitioners and locations operate on a sliding scale.

  2. Training schools: If there is a training school for craniosacral therapy, they may offer times throughout the month and year where low-cost treatments are available. These treatments are often times offered by both experienced practitioners who are teachers at the training center and students under supervision.

  3. Low-cost days: Some practitioners do not operate their practice on a sliding scale, but some may offer low-low cost days where the cost per session is lower and more financially reachable. A low-cost day may be offered biweekly, or once a month.

Each of these three choices for low-cost craniosacral therapy are a great way to make treatment more affordable for your health needs.

Which Insurance Companies Cover Craniosacral Therapy?

The following insurance companies may cover your craniosacral therapy, depending on your plan. Be sure to check with your insurance provider to verify coverage before seeking treatment. Your craniosacral therapy practitioner may also be able to assist you.

  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield: Does not view craniosacral therapy as medically necessary and so the company does not cover it.

  • Cigna: Based on this policy, Cigna excludes craniosacral therapy from coverage no matter if there are clinical indications or not.

  • United Health Care: Will cover the craniosacral therapy for many different conditions depending on the particular plan that you have. A few conditions that may be considered are asthma, chronic pain, and headaches or migraines.

  • Atena: Aetna considers craniosacral therapy to be experimental and investigational and consequently will not cover it.

Craniosacral Therapy Cost by City

Methodology

These prices estimate the costs you may expect to pay for craniosacral therapy without insurance. To determine these prices, we sampled the craniosacral therapists listed in the Google business directory in each area. Many craniosacral therapists offer 90-minute sessions.

The prices listed are for 60-minute sessions. In addition, the rates listed are also rates offered for adults.

Cost by City:

Are infant and pediatric rates different?

Costs of Infant and Pediatric Treatment

Infant and pediatric treatments are going to cost less no matter where you live in the nation. Why because of the sessions for infants and children are usually only a half hour long in place of one-hour or an hour-and-a-half.

Because of the time commitment difference for infants and other children, is different compared to adults? the average cost for an infant or child session $50. A rule of thumb that was seen when surveying fees throughout the nation, practitioner’s fees for infants and children treatment fees are half the cost of adult hourly fees for treatment sessions.

Tips for Shopping for Craniosacral Therapy

  1. Recommendations: Ask your friends for a recommendation for a craniosacral therapy practitioner.

  2. Research: Research online to find a craniosacral therapy practitioner that may be the right fit for you.

  3. Reviews: Read online reviews. Other peoples experiences can give in insight on what you may expect when being treated by a particular practitioner.

  4. Training and specialties: Ask and find out about each craniosacral therapy practitioners’ training and specializations. This is particularly important if you are seeking care during pregnancy or for an infant.

  5. Introductory session: Call and ask for an introductory session.

  6. Evaluate: Go to your first appointment and evaluate the craniosacral therapy practitioner and the office.

  7. Decide: Make a decision to return or keep looking for a craniosacral therapy practitioner you like and meets your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of frequently asked questions about craniosacral therapy and insurance:

Does Medicare Cover Craniosacral Therapy?

No. Medicare does not cover craniosacral therapy.

Does Medicaid Cover Craniosacral Therapy?

No. Medicaid does not cover craniosacral therapy.

Do Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans Cover Craniosacral Therapy?

Some Medicare supplemental insurance plans provide coverage for craniosacral therapy treatment but most don?t offer coverage. Calling and finding out if your supplemental insurance plan covers the treatment is always a good place to start.

Will my Insurance Cover Craniosacral Therapy?

As you can see from above, insurance companies do not often offer craniosacral therapy treatment sessions. However, if your employer offers a FSA or flexible spending account, it may be a way for making the cost of treatment within your financial reach.

References:

Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2019, from http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/300_399/0388.html

Cigna: Exclusions And Limitations: What Is Not Covered By This Policy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2019, from https://www.cigna.com/assets/docs/individual-and-families/2017/medical/cm/2017-il-connect-exclusions.pdf

MANIPULATIVE THERAPYUnitedHealthcare(R) Commercial Medical Policy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2019, from https://www.uhcprovider.com/content/dam/provider/docs/public/policies/comm-medical-drug/manipulative-therapy.pdf

NON COVERED PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES COVERAGE. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2019, from http://www.bcbstx.com/provider/pdf/medicalpolicies/therapy/803-008.pdf