Does Medicare Cover Acupuncture?

Coverage · Therapy & Specialists

This covers Medicare and acupuncture — acupuncture for chronic low back pain.

Does Medicare cover acupuncture?

Only for one condition — Medicare covers acupuncture solely for chronic low back pain. Part B covers up to 12 acupuncture visits in 90 days for chronic low back pain (pain lasting 12+ weeks with no identifiable systemic cause). Up to 8 more visits are covered if you are improving — capped at 20 visits per year.

Which part of Medicare covers it?

Part B.

What you pay

You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible.

Exact dollar amounts change every year — see Medicare costs for 2026 for the current deductibles and coinsurance, or a Medigap plan can cover most of this cost-sharing for you.

The limits people get wrong

Acupuncture for any other condition — headaches, knee pain, nausea, anything but chronic low back pain — is not covered. Treatment must be stopped if your pain is not improving.

Related services

• Does Medicare cover chiropractic care?
• Does Medicare cover physical therapy?

Related Medicare guides

• All service coverage · drug coverage · dental, vision & hearing.
• Medicare costs · Glossary · Medicare Help Center.

Get a Real Answer for Your Situation — Free

Whether acupuncture is covered — and what you’ll owe — depends on the details of your care and your plan. Call us free at 435-219-5120 (TTY: 711) and we’ll tell you what Medicare covers in your case, and whether a different plan would cover it better. No cost, no pressure.