While most insurance policies do not cover yoga classes directly, you still have other options. Gym memberships, fitness classes, or weight loss programs might be covered, through full coverage, co-payments, or reimbursement. But first, here are some things you should know about yoga and your health insurance.
Even doctors think your yoga classes should be covered
No, you are not out of line to ask your health insurance company about their policies on yoga classes and other similar programs. In fact, even doctors think that yoga classes should be considered a vital part of health maintenance, and should be covered by insurance policies.
- Yoga has a proven positive effect on mental health. Good mental health usually leads to better physical health.
- For those already enrolled in yoga programs, they usually are 43% less likely to need a hospital visit. That saves them, and their health insurance companies, up to $25,000 per person per year.
- Yoga is safe and easy to do at home, so doctors can prescribe it as low-cost preventative or rehabilitative care.
What are your insurance options?
Of course, the insurance policies and options differ per state. But if you are looking for health insurance in New Jersey to cover your yoga classes, here are some of your options.
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Under the Affordable Care Act, you might be able to get your diet and exercise plans covered. If your body mass index, or BMI, is at 30, then that is medically considered obese. Obesity puts patients at a higher risk of related health problems, including Type II diabetes and heart disease.
Funding your diet and exercise plan is to your benefit, and to the benefit of your health insurance company. If your BMI is between 25 to 30, you can open the conversation with your insurance provider. Ask what can be included in your insurance policy.
Medicare
If you are a senior citizen, there are actually some Medicare policies that cover gym memberships, including yoga classes. Doctors may even prescribe yoga for health maintenance. If you are already on Medicare, you may want to consult on the policies that cover yoga classes.
Preventative care discounts or reimbursements
Healthy people cost health insurance companies a lot less. It’s a straightforward fact. As a result, quite a few health insurance companies offer discounts for gym memberships and fitness classes. Sometimes they partner with a specific gym or fitness program, making it easier for you to get the discount.
What if your insurance policy does not include gym membership discounts? You can also attempt to reimburse the cost of your membership or yoga classes through a Health Savings Account (HSA), Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), or Flexible Savings Account (FSA). These accounts help you cover expenses not explicitly covered in your health insurance plan. But it’s still better if you can get a doctor’s prescription for yoga.
What is the right way to ask your health insurance company about yoga classes?
Technically, yoga classes fall under complementary care. This means they are not considered part of traditional medicine. However, this was true of chiropractor practices 6 years ago. In 2014, it was listed under treatments that can now be covered under your health insurance.
Usually, to get the support of your health insurance for something like yoga classes, you need a doctor’s prescription or recommendation. You can appeal for health insurance for one of two kinds of care: 1) preventative, and 2) rehabilitative.
As we mentioned above, preventative care is meant to maintain good health. Yoga, along with exercise, improves blood flow, enhances breathing techniques, reduces stress, and adds to overall well-being. You can ask if these classes can be covered under fitness and preventative care.
Another appeal you can make is yoga classes for rehabilitative care. For patients recovering from cancer or some forms of treatment and even surgery, light exercise would speed up the rehabilitation. Patients who recover fully from illnesses and treatments are less of a liability to health insurance companies. If a doctor can prescribe yoga as part of therapy, it may be covered by your insurance policy.
If you approach the challenge the right way, you just might get your yoga classes covered by your health insurance policy!
