Insurance Coverage
Cigna & Acupuncture
Cigna acupuncture coverage - what's included
Coverage Overview
Cigna covers acupuncture under most of its commercial health plans, including employer-sponsored PPO and HMO plans. Cigna's acupuncture benefit has expanded in recent years to include a wider range of conditions beyond chronic pain. Nature Acupuncture & Herbs is in-network with Cigna and can verify your benefits before your first visit.
Cigna's acupuncture coverage typically provides 12-20 visits per year depending on your specific plan. Visits are subject to your plan's deductible and a specialist or primary care copay. Cigna covers acupuncture when it is medically necessary and provided by a licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.) or physician. Prior authorization may be required for certain conditions or after exceeding a visit threshold.
What's Typically Covered
- ◈12-20 acupuncture visits per year (plan dependent)
- ◈Subject to deductible and specialist copay
- ◈Chronic pain, headaches, nausea, and more
- ◈In-network and out-of-network coverage available
- ◈No prior authorization required for initial visits (most plans)
- ◈Works alongside Cigna's Healthy Rewards wellness program
What Cigna Publishes
Cigna publishes a dedicated acupuncture coverage policy. It treats acupuncture as medically necessary, when the benefit is included in the plan, for tension-type and migraine headache, musculoskeletal joint and soft tissue pain producing a functional deficit, nausea of pregnancy, chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea, and postoperative dental pain. Maintenance or supportive treatment with no defined endpoint is not covered, and precertification is commonly required.
Source: Coverage Policy CPG 024, Acupuncture. Policy effective April 2026, checked September 2026.
How to Check Your Own Cigna Benefit
Plan documents are written for the plan, not for you. Two people with the same carrier on their card can have completely different acupuncture benefits, because the employer chooses the design. Anything below describes what the carrier publishes; only a call against your own member ID tells you what you have.
Before you call
- ◈Your member ID and group number, both on the front of your card
- ◈The member services phone number from the back of your card
- ◈Your date of birth and the subscriber name, if the plan is not in your name
- ◈A rough description of what you want treated, and how long you have had it
What to ask, word for word
- 1.“Is acupuncture a covered benefit on my plan, and does it need prior authorization or a referral?”
- 2.“Are CPT codes 97810, 97811, 97813 and 97814 covered, and how many units per visit?”
- 3.“How many acupuncture visits am I allowed per year, and how many have I used?”
- 4.“What is my copay or coinsurance for acupuncture, and does my deductible apply first?”
- 5.“Is a licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.) an eligible provider type, or must it be an MD or DC?”
- 6.“Does coverage depend on the diagnosis, and which conditions are eligible?”
If it is not covered: If acupuncture is not covered on your plan, we will tell you before you book rather than after you have been treated, and we can talk through self-pay options. We also accept FSA and HSA cards.
Accepting
Cigna
Verify your acupuncture benefits before your first visit. Our billing team handles the details.
Verify My BenefitsBook AppointmentCommon Questions
Cigna Acupuncture Coverage FAQ
Does Cigna cover acupuncture?
Yes. Cigna covers acupuncture under most commercial health plans as a medically necessary service. Coverage includes chronic low back pain, headaches and migraines, nausea and vomiting, osteoarthritis, and other conditions. Benefits typically include 12-20 visits per year subject to your deductible and copay.
How many acupuncture visits does Cigna cover per year?
Most Cigna plans cover between 12 and 20 acupuncture visits per year. Some plans may have higher or lower limits. The annual visit count typically resets on your plan's benefit year date, not January 1st. We recommend verifying your exact visit limit when you confirm your benefits.
Do I need a referral for acupuncture with Cigna?
Most Cigna PPO plans do not require a referral for acupuncture. Cigna HMO plans may require a referral from your primary care physician. If you are unsure, you can call the member services number on your Cigna card or contact our office and we'll help verify your requirements.
Is Nature Acupuncture & Herbs in-network with Cigna?
Our providers participate in the Cigna network. We recommend calling our office or using our insurance verification form so we can confirm in-network status for your specific Cigna plan (Cigna has multiple plan types and networks). Verifying this before your first visit avoids any surprise billing.
Other Accepted Insurance Plans
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal acupuncture coverage - what to know
Aetna
Aetna acupuncture coverage - understand your benefits
Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield acupuncture coverage in California
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare acupuncture coverage - know your plan
Anthem Blue Cross
Anthem Blue Cross acupuncture coverage in Los Angeles
UMR
UMR acupuncture coverage in Los Angeles
Optum
Optum acupuncture coverage in Los Angeles
Alignment Health Plan
Alignment Health Plan acupuncture coverage in Los Angeles
UCLA Medicare (HMO)
UCLA Medicare HMO acupuncture coverage in Los Angeles
TriWest
TriWest and VA Community Care acupuncture for veterans
Premera
Premera Blue Cross acupuncture coverage for members in Los Angeles
Don't see your plan? View all accepted insurance →
Ready to Use Your Insurance?
Verify your benefits online or call our billing team - we'll confirm your coverage before your first visit.