Spa warning norweigen

Just a heads up if your thinking of using the spa for acupuncture. We were told that the people who did acupuncture were doctors and we're certified. We told them our insurance company covered acupuncture if it was performed by qualified people. We were assured they were qualified. My wife took two treatments at a cost of 177 dollars each. Upon our return we submitted these bills to our insurance company. They would not cover them. I called the company that contracts the spa and received little support. They said their people were qualified. I asked for proof. They send me a certificate in chinese. Just a warning if you want to use insurance.

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.... We told them our insurance company covered acupuncture if it was performed by qualified people. ...

They may well have been qualified by someone, somewhere. Apparently not the same as what your insurance company agreed with.

Not unusual for many insurance related things. Out of the country.. anything can happen. If you have an HSA, you can use that - just reimburse yourself.

P.S. Too bad you can not change the title as this is less about the spa and more about "Acupuncture and Insurance"

Just a heads up if your thinking of using the spa for acupuncture. We were told that the people who did acupuncture were doctors and we're certified. We told them our insurance company covered acupuncture if it was performed by qualified people. We were assured they were qualified. My wife took two treatments at a cost of 177 dollars each. Upon our return we submitted these bills to our insurance company. They would not cover them. I called the company that contracts the spa and received little support. They said their people were qualified. I asked for proof. They send me a certificate in chinese. Just a warning if you want to use insurance.

 

 

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Why would anyone think their insurance would reimburse for acupuncture while on a cruise? I would have asked the insurance company first and then done the treatments not the other way around.

I'm sure they are certified. The better question is, "By whom are they certified?"

Sounds like the issue is with OP's insurance carrier not with NCL or the spa.

No one should do any sort of medical or "cosmetic" procedure on a cruise. Ever.

I recall them having people in the spa that did some of the cosmetic and possibly the acupuncture treatments that were labeled something like 'Dr. Ashley'. Mm-hmm; very doubtful dr Ashley actually holds a MD to work in a cruise ship spa.

Sorry OP feels mislead, and may have been, but saying that insurance covers 'qualified' people is sooo ambiguous. Feel like your actual policy lists certifications they have to hold or a type of facility they work in. The spa people may have been to a 2 day training workshop held at corporate but from the spa's point of view that makes them 'qualified'

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No one should do any sort of medical or "cosmetic" procedure on a cruise. Ever.

To me... that seems obvious... but apparently lots of people think it is fine. To each their own. Their choice.

Then again, I would never buy "art" on a ship, or expensive jewelry. Again, to each their own. Or buy lots of pictures that just are put in a box in the closet, never to be seen until the kids clean our your house - LOL. Again - to each their own. Their choice.

Why would anyone think their insurance would reimburse for acupuncture while on a cruise? I would have asked the insurance company first and then done the treatments not the other way around.

Why not? I've had an RMT session at a luxury spa - insurance covered it, because the massage was therapeutic, even though the setting was luxe.

Stephen

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Just a heads up if your thinking of using the spa for acupuncture. We were told that the people who did acupuncture were doctors and we're certified. We told them our insurance company covered acupuncture if it was performed by qualified people. We were assured they were qualified. My wife took two treatments at a cost of 177 dollars each. Upon our return we submitted these bills to our insurance company. They would not cover them. I called the company that contracts the spa and received little support. They said their people were qualified. I asked for proof. They send me a certificate in chinese. Just a warning if you want to use insurance.

 

 

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This has nothing to do with NCL. It has to do with your insurance company and implementation of Obamacare.

The OP was from Canada.

I do know that Medicare will NOT cover anything outside of the United States and neither will at some of the supplement insurance policies.

Obamacare.

Seriously? The OP isn't even American. :rolleyes:

I would never have even thought to ask my insurance company to reimburse me for a procedure I received on a cruise line. Interesting.

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Hi HotRod!

Why did your wife need the acupuncture? Was she injured? Then that would come under your travel insurance.

Either way do you think that the key word here is not "qualified" but "In Network"?

Most cruise ships are not registered in the United States. Any "doctors" would be foreign based and thus I doubt would be "Participating In-Network" doctors in any U.S.Health Plan. It is highly unlikely Certified or not...that your health plan would accept out-of network care from a foreign specialist.

Post Script: Even in my own city I call my health provider to double check that a doctor I want to see is "IN" the plan...even if they "say" they are. The question in the United States one should be asking is not "Do you take my health insurance?" ... but "Are you in network?"

Every doctor says they accept your insurance...but that doesn't mean they are "in network" and if "out of network" you may need to pay them up front and then hope to get partially reimbursed by your Health Provider [after fulfilling your deductible of course].

[stage Direction: Step Off Soap Box]

Oh could this open a can of worms!

HLR

FYI - OP is from Canada... if that matters.

Well...a few things come to my mind. Was your wife injured? If not, then I can't imagine why any insurance company would cover this procedure if it's not due to medical reasons. I suspect it was not due to an injury but I could be wrong. Some people get it due to chronic pain. That said, the people doing the acupuncture may be certified in their own country that is not recognized by US insurance standards. My question is....was your wife getting this treatment just for the heck of it...out of curiosity, or was it medically needed?

My experience...

I was on a 13 day TA from FL to Barcelona with another 1 1/2 weeks in Barcelona. I left with lower back pain, a chronic condition for me, and it got worse immediately on the ship. I was facing a 3 week+ vacation in pain. While getting a mani/pedi my tech suggested acupuncture. Having had experience with nontraditional medicine, I tried it with high expectations. The therapy was not provided by an MD, and I did not expect that. But he was trained in China and that is what I would hope for. Over the cruise he treated me and I was 80-90% relieved of pain. I have since received more acupuncture at home with additional favorable results.

If you are not inclined to not inclined to receive nontraditional treatments, I would not give my opinion on patient choice, as it is probably irrelevant.

I did not expect medical insurance coverage, but have received my own HSA reimbursement. I did not think of travel insurance coverage, which I had, but don't think I will bother with it. My treatment on the ship was $750 for 5 visits.

My experience...

 

I was on a 13 day TA from FL to Barcelona with another 1 1/2 weeks in Barcelona. I left with lower back pain, a chronic condition for me, and it got worse immediately on the ship. I was facing a 3 week+ vacation in pain. While getting a mani/pedi my tech suggested acupuncture. Having had experience with nontraditional medicine, I tried it with high expectations. The therapy was not provided by an MD, and I did not expect that. But he was trained in China and that is what I would hope for. Over the cruise he treated me and I was 80-90% relieved of pain. I have since received more acupuncture at home with additional favorable results.

 

If you are not inclined to not inclined to receive nontraditional treatments, I would not give my opinion on patient choice, as it is probably irrelevant.

 

I did not expect medical insurance coverage, but have received my own HSA reimbursement. I did not think of travel insurance coverage, which I had, but don't think I will bother with it. My treatment on the ship was $750 for 5 visits.

...Not sure what HSA reimbursement is. I am not good with all the abbreviations these days.

HSA is where you can put money aside each year for medical out of pocket expenses. Goes in tax free and not an expense when you use it.

More online here

Just a heads up if your thinking of using the spa for acupuncture. We were told that the people who did acupuncture were doctors and we're certified. We told them our insurance company covered acupuncture if it was performed by qualified people. We were assured they were qualified. My wife took two treatments at a cost of 177 dollars each. Upon our return we submitted these bills to our insurance company. They would not cover them. I called the company that contracts the spa and received little support. They said their people were qualified. I asked for proof. They send me a certificate in chinese. Just a warning if you want to use insurance.

 

 

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HaHaHa! You thought a physician would do an office visit and a procedure for only $177? Most offices would charge that much for a physician just to walk into the room and say hi. The overhead alone to practice medicine would cost too much to allow that pricing. The ship charges that much even to get a massage and a facial!

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thanks for the comments. This is why I used the term heads up so other will learn from my mistake. As for the comments about the title it was an issue with the spa. Also you need to put some blame on NCL as they contract out to this company. We pay good money for our insurance if our insurance cover acupunture and we pay for it we should be covered. Our assumption was (I know what happens when you assume) that the people were qualified this is what we were told.

HSA is where you can put money aside each year for medical out of pocket expenses. Goes in tax free and not an expense when you use it.

 

More online here

Just a heads up if your thinking of using the spa for acupuncture. We were told that the people who did acupuncture were doctors and we're certified. We told them our insurance company covered acupuncture if it was performed by qualified people. We were assured they were qualified. My wife took two treatments at a cost of 177 dollars each. Upon our return we submitted these bills to our insurance company. They would not cover them. I called the company that contracts the spa and received little support. They said their people were qualified. I asked for proof. They send me a certificate in chinese. Just a warning if you want to use insurance.

 

thanks for the comments. This is why I used the term heads up so other will learn from my mistake. As for the comments about the title it was an issue with the spa. Also you need to put some blame on NCL as they contract out to this company. We pay good money for our insurance if our insurance cover acupunture and we pay for it we should be covered. Our assumption was (I know what happens when you assume) that the people were qualified this is what we were told.

Your problem lies in the word "qualified" which is what you should have had defined by your insurance company before you went on the cruise and booked the services. You informed the cruise people that your insurance reimburses you for procedures performed by "qualified" people. The people who performed the services were "qualified" to perform the service based on the spa/cruise line standards but that doesn't automatically make them qualified by your insurance company standards.

My experience with procedures like this is that they have to be pre-approved by the insurance company. You can't just show up & get a massage or acupuncture and get reimbursed. Also when procedures like this are covered under insurance they probably have to meet certain criteria including some or all of the following: i) qualified/certified person performs procedure; ii) procedure is medically necessary; iii) location is covered (i.e., in your home country); iv) any precertification is approved.

thanks for the comments. This is why I used the term heads up so other will learn from my mistake. As for the comments about the title it was an issue with the spa. Also you need to put some blame on NCL as they contract out to this company. We pay good money for our insurance if our insurance cover acupunture and we pay for it we should be covered. Our assumption was (I know what happens when you assume) that the people were qualified this is what we were told.

As a Canadian with insurance such as yours, I have had massages from a 'spa' covered through my insurance, as the treatment was prescribed by my Dr. I have had acupuncture covered as well, again it was prescribed to me. These were all treatments provided in Canada. Did you check your Insurance Provider to see if they cover treatments outside of Canada? Did you confirm what qualifications your Insurance Provider required? I know that my provider requires Canadian registration numbers, from the College of RMT.

Thank you for providing a heads up, so others can check their requirements before traveling.

thanks for the comments. This is why I used the term heads up so other will learn from my mistake. As for the comments about the title it was an issue with the spa. Also you need to put some blame on NCL as they contract out to this company. We pay good money for our insurance if our insurance cover acupunture and we pay for it we should be covered. Our assumption was (I know what happens when you assume) that the people were qualified this is what we were told.

No one should ever assume that just because an insurance company states it "covers" a certain service such as acupuncture rather than "excludes" it from coverage, that there are no other factors they will consider before paying. Insurance is just not that simple. There are many factors which come into play, one of which is the stipulation that the provider of services be qualified. In the US, and probably Canada as well, the practitioner or technician must meet the education, training and certification or licensing process set up by those professions and certified by the states they practice in.

So even if your insurance covers acupuncture, if the provider is not licensed or certified, they are not going to pay. Even if the person holds some sort of certification in China, the insurance company may not agree that it meets the standards they are governed by, or they may exclude services out of the country. It might be worth filing an appeal for. Have they seen the Chinese document you mentioned?