Original Medicare only covers acupuncture to treat chronic lower back pain. But some Part C plans might cover acupuncture for treating other pain conditions like neuropathy.
Acupuncture, a holistic practice with a history spanning thousands of years, is thought to be effective for treating both acute and chronic pain, including neuropathy or nerve pain.
In 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced new regulations concerning Medicare’s coverage for acupuncture treatments. However, these new regulations do not extend to covering acupuncture for neuropathy treatment.
Original Medicare (parts A and B) only covers acupuncture when used to treat chronic lower back pain. The plan tends to cover medical care that is and proven to be effective.
Although neuropathic pain is common, and acupuncture does show some promise in treating it, more research is needed to confirm the treatment’s effectiveness in this space.
This means Original Medicare may consider acupuncture for neuropathy as experimental or without sufficient evidence for its effectiveness.
You aren’t likely to get acupuncture for neuropathy covered under Original Medicare. That said, you have the option of signing up for Medicare Advantage (Part C), which is an alternative to Original Medicare.
Part C plans are managed by private insurers, and some Part C plans may offer benefits that Original Medicare does not offer. They may approve coverage for acupuncture for indications not covered by Original Medicare, including for neuropathy.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
Medicare open enrollment occurs each year from October 15 through December 7. During this period, you may join, drop, or switch Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or Part D plans.
You can find Part C plans available in your area by entering your zip code on Medicare.gov. Just remember, even if your plan approves coverage, you may need to see an acupuncture provider in your plan’s network, depending on the type of plan you have.
Under Original Medicare, when you get acupuncture for chronic lower back pain, Medicare Part B covers 12 acupuncture sessions within 90 days and up to 20 sessions per year. If you show improvement during treatment, Part B may cover an additional eight sessions.
However, this would not apply to acupuncture when needed for treating neuropathy. If you are enrolled in a Part C plan and your plan approves your acupuncture treatment for neuropathy, the number of sessions you can get covered will depend on your plan.
How much would acupuncture for neuropathy cost under Medicare?
Acupuncture for chronic lower back pain that falls under Part B will be covered once a person meets their annual deductible, which is $257 in 2025. After that, Part B will pay for 80% of the cost.
If your Part C plan approves acupuncture for neuropathy, your coinsurance, deductible, and premium will depend on your plan.
According to the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare (CMS), the average monthly premium for Part C plans is around $17 in 2025.
In addition, to stay enrolled in a Part C plan, you still have to pay the Part B premium. That said, some Part C may cover your Part B premium.
Acupuncture involves inserting needles into pressure points to stimulate the nervous system, potentially releasing endorphins for natural pain relief and altering pain responses.
Research suggests acupuncture could help treat peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain, and methods like electroacupuncture show promise in reducing nerve sensitivity and inflammation.
Reviews have also found acupuncture beneficial for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, neuropathy from spinal cord injury, and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, though more research is needed to verify the effectiveness.
Acupuncture may be effective in treating both acute and chronic pain, including nerve pain or neuropathy.
In 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented new rules regarding Medicare’s coverage of acupuncture treatments. However, these regulations do not include coverage for acupuncture as a treatment for neuropathy.
Currently, Original Medicare solely covers acupuncture for back pain. However, certain Part C plans may offer coverage for acupuncture to treat other conditions, such as neuropathy.