What You Can Do for Yourself Of course, most consumers are more interested in their own pocketbooks than health care costs for the nation at large. You might put together a simple survey and ask others in your workplace whether they want alternative benefits, too. You could even suggest a plan to measure usage and outcomes. Write to the president of your health plan as well. Collaborate with your doctor and ask her to include the alternatives you'd like to try in her treatment plan.
Many doctors are surprisingly open to options that their patients suggest.
If your regular physician recommends an alternative therapy as part of medically necessary care, some health plans will pay for them. If your insurer refuses coverage, try getting a second opinion. A sheaf of physician recommendations, followed by a letter-writing campaign, may help. If you have to pay out of your own pocket, ease the pain a bit by using tax-sheltered money. Many employers offer a flexible spending account that allows workers to set aside tax-free money for medical expenses.