The heart of any personal injury claim is always going to be the claimant’s medical treatment and resulting bills. Insurance companies use the bills and records for your treatment to evaluate your claim. However, insurance companies do not weigh all treatments equally when evaluating a claim. Holistic medicine may be what is best for you and your injuries, but will an insurance adjuster feel the same way? It is an unfortunate reality that many people do not see the value of holistic treatment. If you were involved in an accident or injury and want to get holistic treatment, you may be in for an uphill battle with the insurance adjuster. Finding the right help with your personal injury case is a critical step in making sure that your claim doesn’t get denied.
What is holistic medicine?
According to Healthline.com: “Holistic medicine is a whole-body approach to healthcare. It aims to improve health and wellness through the body, mind, and soul.” Holistic medicine is often used to complement mainstream treatment, although it can be used as an alternative to more traditional treatment. Holistic treatment may include things like diet and lifestyle changes, massage therapy, yoga, meditation, herbal remedies, acupuncture and acupressure, chiropractic care, homeopathy, naturopathy, or psychological or spiritual counseling. Practitioners of holistic medicine may physicians, such as an MD or DO, or they may be non-physician providers, such as a naturopathic doctor or a chiropractor. Some may also practice forms of traditional medicine, such as Ayurvedic medicine or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
How do Insurance companies view holistic medicine?
Insurance companies are always looking out for their own bottom line, which means that they will use any excuse they can come up with to reject medical bills, even if they have accepted liability for the accident. An adjuster may not view holistic treatment in the same way as other kinds of treatment. Insurance companies are often prejudiced against holistic treatment, especially if it is used in lieu of more traditional treatments. An insurance adjuster may be more willing to accept holistic treatments if they were recommended by a doctor or used in tandem with mainstream treatments. Like with chiropractic care or physical therapy, many adjusters will only accept holistic treatments if the claimant first went to a physician for a diagnosis and referral for treatment. Length of treatment is also often a sticking point with many adjusters. Holistic treatments that last for several months may be necessary, but an insurance adjuster will always be suspicious of unnecessary treatments. Having regular checkups with a physician or treating with a holistic doctor who is also an MD or DO may help to control for the adjuster’s prejudices.
What can I do if I want to receive holistic treatment?
Your first priority should always be your health and well-being. If holistic medicine is what you believe is best, find a holistic doctor that you trust and start getting treatment as soon as you can. Getting evaluated by a physician can also be a good way to solidify your injuries and help justify your treatment in the eyes of the insurance company. However, it is not a good idea to make medical decisions based solely on how you think it might affect your case. Remember that the adjuster is almost certainly not a doctor and insurance companies do not get to decide what kind of treatment is best for you.
The next step is to find an attorney that believes in you and in your needs. Too many attorneys hold the same kind of prejudices that insurance companies have against holistic treatment. At the Brandy Austin Law Firm, we believe that the client knows best when it comes to their bodies and their treatment needs. We fight vigorously for all of our clients—no insurance company should be allowed to deny fair compensation on bogus claims about your treatment.
If you have been involved in an accident or injury and want to pursue holistic treatment for your injuries, contact us online or call us today at 817-841-9906 to set up a free consultation.
