Medicare is the only insurance available for senior and is required by law. As Medicare does not cover Naturopathic physicians, the patient is required to pay out of pocket for Naturopathic Services. Medicare has started refusing to pay for labs ordered by Licensed Naturopaths, discriminating against and penalizing patients who use Naturopathic physicians. These are the ordinary labs used for screening and diagnosis, normally covered by Medicare. For those who cannot afford the labs in addition to the Naturopathic Doctor's fees, they are forced to go to an MD to get labs covered, and can include a considerable delay and added expense, especially in rural areas, where seeing an MD can take weeks to get in. This puts a burden on the emergency rooms and is not good medicine. Naturopaths are licensed in 17 states, and the District of Columbia and have extensive medical training, similar to MD's plus extensive training in herbs, nutrition, and supplements. Many seniors prefer Naturopathic physicians as their office visits are usually longer and more holistic. Patients feel more heard, the approach is more integrated, and more choices are offered for their health care. As long as there is no other health insurance available to seniors, Medicare should cover the normal and ordinary labs test that would be covered if an MD ordered them.
