If you are asking how much does acupuncture cost, the useful answer is not a single number. What you actually pay for a course of acupuncture in New Jersey depends on how many visits you need, which of those visits are consultations and which are treatment sessions, whether anything is added to the needling, and how your insurance plan or health account handles the bill. Two people seeing the same practitioner can end up paying very different amounts for the same care.
This guide explains each of those factors and every way we know of to reduce what you pay. We do not print prices in articles, because fees change and your share depends on your own plan. For our current fees, call the office at (908) 402-7301 and we will go through them with you and explain your options.
How much does acupuncture cost? What sets the total
The total cost of acupuncture is easiest to understand as a short calculation: the fee for each type of visit, multiplied by the number of visits, plus anything added on, minus whatever insurance or a tax-advantaged account covers. Each part of that calculation can move a long way, and each one is worth asking about before you start.
The first visit and the follow-ups are different appointments
At our clinic the first appointment is a 60-minute initial consultation. It covers your history, symptoms, medicines and lifestyle, and Dr. Gandapodi looks at your tongue and takes your pulse as part of the assessment. Needling is generally not done on the same day. Follow-up consultations and treatment sessions are 30 minutes each.
That structure matters for cost because the first visit and the later sessions are different services. When you call any clinic, ask what the first appointment includes and whether treatment is given that day, so you know whether you are comparing like with like. One office may fold assessment and treatment into a single visit. Another may separate them, as we do, because a full history takes time and a better plan comes from it.
Session length and what happens in it
Sessions vary between clinics in how long they last and in what is included. Some offices add other methods to the same appointment, and some charge separately for them. When you compare options, ask how long you will actually be with the practitioner, who will treat you, and whether anything in the session is billed as an extra. At our clinic every patient is treated by Dr. Gandapodi himself, and sessions are 30 minutes.
How many sessions your condition needs
The number of visits is usually the biggest driver of the total, and it is the hardest to predict. A recent, simple problem may settle in a handful of sessions. A condition you have had for years, or several problems at once, usually needs a longer course.
Medicare's rule for chronic low back pain gives a useful reference point for what a structured course can look like: up to 12 visits in 90 days, 8 more if you are improving, and no more than 20 in a year. Coverage stops if you are not improving. We cover typical ranges and how frequency tapers in a separate article on how many acupuncture sessions you may need.
What protects your budget is not a promised number but a plan with review points. At the end of your consultation you get a proposed plan: what is recommended, how often and for how long. You should know when progress will be reviewed, so you are never paying for open-ended care that is not helping.
Add-ons such as herbs
Some patients are offered more than needling. At our clinic that can include Chinese or Ayurvedic herbal medicine, Ayurvedic treatment, Panchakarma or Transdermal Medication Therapy. Herbs are prescribed for the individual and checked against the medicines you already take. These are separate from acupuncture for payment purposes. Insurance applies to acupuncture only. Ayurvedic medicine, Chinese herbal medicine, Panchakarma and Transdermal Medication Therapy are not billed to insurance.
None of these is required in order to have acupuncture. If something is recommended, it is fair to ask what it is for, how long you would take it, how its cost works, and what would happen if you left it out. A good practitioner will answer those questions plainly.
Whether you use insurance, and how your plan is built
If your plan covers acupuncture, the clinic's fee is only the starting point. Your share is set by your deductible, copay or coinsurance, and by whether the practitioner is in your network. Those terms trip up many people, so the next section explains them.
Insurance terms that decide your share
The definitions below follow the HealthCare.gov glossary, which is a plain-language reference run by the federal government. Your own plan documents are the final word on how each one applies to you.
Deductible. This is what you pay for covered services before your plan starts to pay. Once you have met it, you usually pay only a copayment or coinsurance. Family plans often have both an individual and a family deductible. Some plans pay for certain services before the deductible is met, so check whether acupuncture is one of them.
Copayment. A copayment is a fixed amount you pay for a covered service after the deductible. Copays can differ between services in the same plan, so the copay for acupuncture may not match the copay for your doctor's office visit.
Coinsurance. Coinsurance is your share of the cost of a covered service, set as a percentage and paid after the deductible. Before the deductible is met, you generally pay the full allowed amount.
Allowed amount. The allowed amount is the most your plan will pay for a covered service. It is sometimes called the negotiated rate. Your coinsurance is calculated on this figure, not on the provider's list fee.
Balance billing. If a provider charges more than the allowed amount, balance billing is the bill for the difference. A preferred (in-network) provider may not balance bill you for covered services. This is one of the main practical reasons to use an in-network practitioner when your plan covers acupuncture.
Out-of-network coinsurance. Some plans pay something toward out-of-network acupuncture. HealthCare.gov notes that out-of-network coinsurance usually costs you more than in-network coinsurance.
Out-of-pocket maximum. This is the most you pay for covered services in a plan year. After you reach it, the plan pays for covered benefits for the rest of the year. Premiums, services your plan does not cover, out-of-network care and balance bills do not count toward it.
Preauthorization. Some plans want approval before certain services. HealthCare.gov is clear that preauthorization is not a promise that the plan will pay.
Referral. A referral is a written order from your primary care doctor to see a specialist or get certain services. In many HMOs, care without one may not be paid.
How those terms play out over a course of treatment
Picture a plan that covers acupuncture, with a deductible you have not yet met. Your first few visits of the year may be paid entirely by you, at the plan's allowed amount. Once the deductible is met, each visit costs you only the copay or coinsurance. If you also have other medical bills that year and reach your out-of-pocket maximum, covered acupuncture visits may cost you nothing more for the rest of the plan year.
Two practical points follow. First, the time of year can change what you pay. A visit after your deductible is met is charged to you at your copay or coinsurance, while the same visit in the first weeks of a new plan year may be charged at the full allowed amount. Second, many plans limit acupuncture to a set number of visits per year or to certain diagnoses. Visits beyond the limit are usually yours to pay, so it helps to know the limit before you plan a long course.
How insurance works at our clinic
Dr. Gandapodi is in network with most insurance plans. The clinic does not take part in Medicare or Medicaid, but it accepts most Medicare Advantage plans that include acupuncture.
Being in network is not the same as being covered. Plans differ, even within one insurance company. One plan may cover a fixed number of acupuncture visits a year, another only certain diagnoses, and another none at all. The only way to know is to check your own plan.
We do that for you at no charge. Fill in the insurance verification form with the name of your insurer, the member name and ID on your card, your date of birth, and the provider phone number from the back of the card. We contact your insurer about your acupuncture benefits and email you the results. It takes 3 to 5 business days, so send it before you book the consultation. More detail is on our insurance page.
If you would like to check with your insurer yourself as well, these are the questions that matter most:
- Does my plan cover acupuncture, and for which diagnoses?
- How many acupuncture visits does it allow per plan year?
- How much of my deductible have I met so far this year?
- Is my share for acupuncture a copay or coinsurance?
- Do I need a referral or preauthorization before the first visit?
- Are there out-of-network benefits, and how are they paid?
- When does my plan year start again?
Write down the date, the name of the person you spoke to and any reference number for the call. If a claim is later processed differently, those notes help.
Insurers decide payment when they process each claim, so any benefits check is a strong guide rather than a guarantee. If anything looks different from what you expected, call us and we will help you work out why.
After a car accident: auto insurance (PIP)
If your treatment follows a car accident, the clinic bills auto insurance personal injury protection (PIP) for acupuncture. Mention the accident when you book, so the office knows to bill your auto policy. Have your auto insurance claim number ready, along with your auto insurer's name and claims phone number.
Medicare, Medicaid and Medicare Supplemental plans
Our clinic does not participate in Medicare or Medicaid, so we cannot bill either program for your visits. We do accept most Medicare Advantage plans that include acupuncture, and the benefits check will tell you whether yours does. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy only helps pay toward services Original Medicare covers, so because the clinic does not bill Medicare, a Medigap policy on its own will not pay for visits here.
For background, Medicare.gov sets out narrow rules for acupuncture under Original Medicare Part B. It covers acupuncture, including dry needling, only for chronic low back pain that has lasted 12 weeks or longer, has no identifiable systemic cause, and is not related to surgery or pregnancy. Coverage is up to 12 visits in 90 days, 8 more if you are improving, and no more than 20 in 12 months. The care must be given by a physician or another provider such as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant who meets education and state licensing requirements. Medicare cannot pay licensed acupuncturists directly. Where Medicare does cover it, the usual Part B deductible and coinsurance apply.
Medicare beneficiaries can still use the other payment options below. One detail is worth knowing if you are approaching Medicare age: IRS Publication 969 says you cannot contribute to an HSA once you are enrolled in Medicare, but money already in the account can still be spent on qualified medical expenses. We explain Medicare's acupuncture rules in more depth in our article on whether Medicare covers acupuncture.
Paying with an HSA, FSA or HRA
Acupuncture is a qualified expense for Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Arrangements and Health Reimbursement Arrangements. IRS Publication 502 states plainly that you can include the amount you pay for acupuncture in medical expenses, and those accounts follow the same general definition of medical care. We accept HSA and FSA cards.
Using one of these accounts lowers your real cost because the money going in is not taxed. In brief:
- HSA. You can contribute only while you are covered by a high deductible health plan. Contributions are pre-tax or deductible, earnings grow tax free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are not taxed. Unused money carries over from year to year and stays with you if you change jobs. It can pay for expenses incurred after the account was set up.
- FSA. Your employer sets it up and you choose how much to put aside from your pay. Your full annual election can be used early in the plan year, before it has all been paid in. FSAs are generally use-it-or-lose-it, though a plan may offer either a grace period of up to two and a half months or a limited carryover, never both.
- HRA. Funded only by your employer. Reimbursements for qualified medical expenses are tax free, and unused amounts can be carried forward.
Some account administrators ask for a Letter of Medical Necessity before paying for acupuncture. If yours does, we can provide one. Keep an itemized receipt for every visit, because the IRS expects HSA owners to keep records showing that withdrawals paid for qualified medical expenses.
Herbal products follow a stricter rule than acupuncture, and we do not want anyone to assume they are covered by the same logic. We explain that rule, and what a Letter of Medical Necessity contains, in our article on paying for acupuncture with an HSA or FSA. The clinic's own summary is on the HSA and FSA page.
Spreading the cost with CareCredit
We accept CareCredit, a health care credit card. You apply online through CareCredit, and approval depends on a credit check. It can be used for costs your insurance does not pay, such as deductibles, copays and treatments that are self-pay, and you can pay your bill from the clinic online with it.
CareCredit offers promotional plans of two kinds. Deferred-interest plans charge no interest if you pay the full balance within the promotional period, but if you do not, the interest that has built up over that period is added to the account. Fixed monthly payment plans run over longer terms at a reduced promotional rate, and a minimum purchase applies. Minimum monthly payments are required on both.
Deferred interest is where people get caught out. If you use it, divide the balance by the number of months in the promotion and pay at least that much each month, rather than the minimum payment. Full terms are on the CareCredit website, and it is worth reading them before you apply.
The senior discount and financial assistance
The clinic states that it will see all patients regardless of ability to pay. Two kinds of discount exist.
Senior discount. A discount is available to older patients. The office will confirm whether you qualify when you call.
Financial assistance. A sliding fee discount is available to households that qualify by size and income, measured against the federal poverty guidelines. Income means the household's combined federal adjusted gross income from the tax return, not taxable income. For self-employed people it is net business income after allowable expenses. If your income has changed since your last return, the clinic may ask for current evidence, such as pay stubs, a year-to-date profit and loss statement, benefit statements or a signed income attestation.
To apply, ask the office for the Sliding Fee Discount Application and bring it to your next visit with supporting documents. Those can include a W-2, recent tax returns, your last two pay stubs, a Social Security statement or unemployment check stubs. The details are on our financial assistance page, and the office can answer questions on (908) 402-7301.
Practical ways to keep the total down
Most of the savings in a course of acupuncture come from planning rather than from any single discount.
- Check your benefits before the first visit. Knowing your deductible, visit limit and copay or coinsurance lets you plan the whole course instead of discovering the cost visit by visit.
- Agree on the plan and its review dates. A planned review after the first several sessions is the single best protection against paying for treatment that is not working.
- Keep a simple symptom record. A nightly note of pain level, sleep and medicine use shows clearly whether you are improving. It also helps decide when visits can be spaced out, which lowers the cost of the later weeks.
- Use pre-tax money where you can. If you have an HSA, FSA or HRA, using it for acupuncture is usually better than paying from taxed income. Check your FSA deadline, because unspent money may be lost.
- Think about timing. If you are close to meeting your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum, it may make sense to start the course while those amounts still count, before the plan year resets.
- Ask what each add-on is for. Herbs and other treatments can be valuable, but you should understand why each one is recommended and how its cost works.
- Be cautious about large prepaid packages. Paying for many sessions up front before you know how you respond puts your money at risk. Ask what happens to unused sessions.
- Keep appointments or give notice. Our clinic asks for 24 hours' notice by phone to cancel. Planning around that avoids wasted slots for you and for other patients.
Questions to ask any clinic about cost before you book
These questions work for any acupuncture practice, including ours. A clinic that answers them clearly is usually one you can trust with the rest of your care.
- What does the first appointment include, and is treatment given that day?
- How long are follow-up sessions, and who treats me at each one?
- How many sessions do you expect for my problem, and when will we review progress?
- Is anything added to a session that is charged separately?
- Will you check my insurance benefits before I start, and what will you tell me?
- Are you in network with my plan, and is acupuncture covered for my diagnosis?
- Which of your treatments are not billed to insurance?
- Do you accept HSA, FSA and HRA cards, and can you provide a Letter of Medical Necessity?
- Do you offer a payment plan, a senior discount or financial assistance?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- If I am not using insurance, can I have a written Good Faith Estimate?
The last question rests on a federal right. Under the No Surprises Act, people who are uninsured or who choose not to use insurance can get a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges. Providers generally must give one when you schedule care at least 3 business days ahead or when you ask. If the final bill is substantially higher than the estimate, you can dispute it, and you must start the dispute within 120 days of receiving the bill.
About your practitioner: Dr. Saikumar Gandapodi
When you pay for a course of acupuncture, you are paying for one practitioner's judgment at every visit. At our clinic that is Dr. Saikumar Gandapodi, DAOM, Dipl. OM, AP, L.Ac., the founder and director. He sees every patient himself, in person, at the South Plainfield office, so the person who writes your plan is the person who carries it out and reviews it.
A large part of his practice is complex and advanced conditions. Many patients come to him after other practitioners and other treatments have produced no results, often with long-standing pain, overlapping symptoms or problems that have never been clearly diagnosed. No outcome can be promised in any individual case, and he will tell you at the consultation what he thinks treatment can realistically do, which also tells you whether the cost is worth it for you.
Credentials
- DAOM: a clinical doctorate in acupuncture and Oriental medicine from Five Branches University.
- Master of Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Science.
- Dipl. OM: national board certification in Oriental Medicine.
- L.Ac.: Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist in New Jersey and New York.
- AP: board-certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture Physician in Florida.
- Classical training in Ayurvedic medicine, a graduate qualification in Yoga Therapy, and advanced clinical training in India.
Expertise
Dr. Gandapodi works in an integrative way, drawing on Chinese medicine, Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy. His special interests are complex and chronic conditions, orthopedic disorders, fertility and internal medicine. The condition pages on this website are written and clinically reviewed by him. More is on our team page.
What to expect at the first visit and in a session
Knowing the shape of the first weeks makes the cost easier to plan.
Before you come in. Send the verification form if you plan to use insurance, and allow 3 to 5 business days for the result. If you plan to use an HSA or FSA, check whether your administrator wants a Letter of Medical Necessity.
The consultation. The first appointment lasts 60 minutes. Bring a photo ID, your insurance card, your most recent complete blood work reports (these can be sent ahead) and a list of your medications and supplements. Dr. Gandapodi will ask about the main problem, your history, your medicines, sleep, digestion and stress, and will look at your tongue and take your pulse. You leave with a proposed plan. That plan is the moment to ask cost questions: how many sessions, how often, what is included, and when the first review will be.
Treatment sessions. Sessions are 30 minutes. You rest on a padded table while fine, sterile, single-use needles are placed. Usually you feel a quick prick or nothing, then a dull, heavy sensation where the needle sits. You do not have to commit to the whole course at once. If the plan is not working, it is reviewed and changed, or stopped. More is on our new patients page.
Safety, and when cost should not delay care
Acupuncture from a licensed practitioner using sterile, single-use needles has a good safety record. NCCIH reports relatively few complications, mostly linked to nonsterile needles or improper technique. The FDA regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices and requires them to be sterile and for single use. Minor effects such as a small bruise, brief soreness or tiredness after a session are more common and usually pass within a day or two.
Tell us before treatment if you take a blood thinner, have a bleeding disorder, are or may be pregnant, have a pacemaker or other implanted device, or have a weakened immune system.
Worry about cost should never delay care for warning signs. These need a doctor or an emergency department first, not an acupuncture appointment:
- Chest pain, pressure or shortness of breath.
- A sudden, severe headache, or the worst headache of your life.
- New weakness, numbness, facial drooping or difficulty speaking.
- Back pain with loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the groin.
- Back pain with fever, unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer.
- Pain after a fall, accident or other injury.
If you are uninsured and worried about an emergency bill, go anyway. Emergency care comes first, and the billing questions can be dealt with afterwards.
How acupuncture fits with your doctor's care
We provide acupuncture as complementary care. It works alongside the treatment from your physician and does not replace it. Keep your primary care doctor and specialists, and do not stop or change a prescribed medicine without talking to the doctor who prescribed it. If you agree, we can send your physician a short summary of your treatment. Doctors who want to refer a patient can use the referring providers page.
Common questions about the cost of acupuncture
Why doesn't this article list your prices?
Fees change, and what you pay depends on your insurance and accounts more than on the list fee. The office will give you current fees by phone at (908) 402-7301 and explain how your plan, an HSA or FSA, CareCredit or a discount would apply.
Is the first consultation the same as a treatment?
No. The first visit is a 60-minute consultation and usually does not include needling. Treatment sessions are 30 minutes and are booked separately.
Does my insurance cover herbs or Ayurvedic treatment?
Not at our clinic. Insurance applies to acupuncture only. Ayurvedic medicine, Chinese herbal medicine, Panchakarma and Transdermal Medication Therapy are not billed to insurance.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed to book with us. Some plans, especially HMOs, require a referral or preauthorization before they pay. The benefits check will show whether yours does.
How long does the free benefits check take?
Three to five business days. We email you the results.
Can I use my HSA or FSA card at the clinic?
Yes. Acupuncture is a qualified expense for HSA, FSA and HRA funds, and we can provide a Letter of Medical Necessity if your administrator asks for one.
I have Original Medicare. Can I still come?
Yes, but we cannot bill Medicare, because the clinic does not participate in it, and a Medigap policy on its own will not pay for visits here. You can also pay with money already in an HSA or with CareCredit, and you can ask about the senior discount and financial assistance. If you switch to a Medicare Advantage plan that includes acupuncture, the clinic accepts most of those plans.
Can I use auto insurance after a car accident?
Yes. The clinic bills auto insurance personal injury protection (PIP) for acupuncture. Mention the accident when you book, and have your auto insurance claim number and your auto insurer's details ready.
Is CareCredit interest free?
Some promotional plans charge no interest if you pay the full balance within the promotional period. If you do not, the interest accrued over the period is added. Approval depends on a credit check.
How do I apply for financial assistance?
Ask the office for the Sliding Fee Discount Application and bring it to your next visit with proof of household income, such as a tax return, recent pay stubs or a Social Security statement.
Will I know the total cost before I commit to a course?
You will know the plan, including how often and for how long treatment is recommended, and the office can explain the fees and your coverage. The exact total depends on how you respond, which is why the plan includes review points.
What if I stop improving partway through?
Then the plan is reviewed. Continuing unchanged when nothing is shifting is not good care and is not a good use of your money.
Can I deduct acupuncture on my taxes?
Acupuncture is listed in IRS Publication 502 as a medical expense. Whether you benefit depends on whether you itemize and on how much you spent in total. Expenses paid from an HSA or reimbursed by an FSA or HRA cannot be counted again. On the state return, New Jersey has its own medical expense deduction for the part of your expenses above a set share of income. A tax professional can advise on your situation.
Booking an appointment
Start with the free benefits check through the verification form if you plan to use insurance. Then book through the appointment page or call (908) 402-7301. You will get a text and an email confirming any booking made online. The clinic is at 5001 Hadley Rd, Suite 210, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, and is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. There are no walk-ins, and same-day slots are limited. Directions are on our location page, and our FAQ page answers other common questions.
This article is general information about health care costs and insurance and is not financial, tax or medical advice. Insurance terms follow the HealthCare.gov glossary. Tax rules come from IRS Publications 502 and 969. State tax information comes from the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Medicare rules come from Medicare.gov, Good Faith Estimate rights from CMS.gov, and safety information from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, all linked above.