Cam

Coverage for CAM is relevant to everyone because I think offering this option will raise premiums and health care costs in general. This is not to pick on CAM’s, adding any service for coverage, such as physical therapy or occupational therapy, usually increases members’ premiums. As such, many health insurers will offer different levels of premiums, with higher premiums covering services like CAM’s.

If covering a CAM raises my premiums, I have the right to know the CAM two things: is it safe? is it effective? Safety is of a paramount issue. CAM’s major obstacle to being accepted mainstream is lack of scientific testing. This weighs on my mind because safety is not established for many questionable CAM’s. For example, colonics has caused outbreaks of severe gastrointestinal infections from the use of non-sterile equipment. (Barrett, 2004) More severe injuries include strokes from chiropractic manipulations of the neck. This usually comes from extreme rotation of the neck causing the vertebral artery to tear. (Barrett, 2003) And the most recent widely-publicized harm are the multiple deaths from Ephedra, leading to its eventual ban