Health Insurance
Basic Health Insurance Information
Examples of Eligible Medical Expenses Examples of Health Insurance Fraud
Examples of Health Conditions Classified as High Risk
Insurance Coverage for Our Assessments and Clinical Reports
Medicare Medicaid What is "Medical Necessity"?
SERVICES
Nutrient Impact Analysis Symptom Analyses Nutritional Assessments
Assessments and Reports
Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA)
Congress defined the term "dietary supplement" in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. A dietary supplement is a
product taken by mouth that contains a "dietary ingredient" intended to supplement the diet. The "dietary ingredients" in these products may include: vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, glandulars, and metabolites. Dietary supplements can be extracts or concentrates, and may be found in many forms such as tablets, capsules, softgels, liquids, or powders. They can also be in other forms, such as a bar, but if they are, information on their label must not represent the product as a conventional food or a sole item of a meal or diet. Whatever their form maybe, DSHEA places dietary supplements in a special category under the general umbrella of "foods," not drugs, and requires that every supplement be labeled a dietary supplement.
Basic Health Insurance Information
Health insurance is generally provided by the following categories of health insurance policies- major medical, comprehensive, and supplemental.
Major Medical insurance policies - are the type of health insurance policy
that covers the expenses of hospitalization.
Comprehensive insurance policies - are the type of health insurance policy that covers the expenses of the family doctors office visits, laboratory tests and therapies.
Supplemental insurance policies - are the type of health insurance policy that generally covers expenses that are smaller and restricted to a certain aspect of care such as vision, dental and prescription drugs.
There are two main methods of purchasing health insurance - group or individual policies.
Group health insurance policies - are most commonly available through employers, memberships in unions, or through groups such as AARP (American Association of Retired Persons).
Individual health insurance policies - are most commonly purchased directly through the health insurance company or trusted family insurance broker.
In addition to these main forms of private health insurance the United States government (using taxpayers contributions) has also subsidized two additional options - Medicare and Medicaid.
Medicare is basic coverage for the elderly, blind or disabled and is available in several parts.
Medicare Part A is basic coverage for hospitalization.
Medicare Part B is basic coverage for family doctors visits, laboratory tests, treatments, and therapies. This health insurance coverage program has a variety of options for the consumer with policy options ranging from A-J.
A the lowest cost and offering the most basic coverage,
while J is a higher cost policy and covers a much wider array of health care options.
Medicaid is offered only to low income families and provides only basic coverage for hospitalization, family doctors visits, laboratory tests, treatments, and some therapies.
For those persons interested in optimal health, wellness, and preventative care the additional benefits of reimbursement for sports, nutritional, or dietary supplements can be a determining factor in deciding which health insurance policy will best suit your needs.
Medicare and Medicaid health insurance policies do not cover the costs of sports, nutritional, or dietary supplements.
Major medical insurance policies do not reimburse for nutritional supplements, as they have not been approved by Congress as a tax-deductible expense.
Comprehensive insurance policies may reimburse for nutritional supplements, only when they are proven to be medically necessary. This is becoming more common with employer sponsored health plans. (For more information on our corporate wellness programs click here.)
Casualty insurance carriers have reliably reimbursed the costs of nutritional supplements for the last 40 years for injured patients when recommended by their physician.
Other Options
You are advised to seek the professional help of a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis of medical symptoms. This web site does not intend to provide such medical advice.
