Naturopathy: What's Covered and What to Check

Naturopathy combines nutrition, herbal remedies, and lifestyle changes into a holistic approach to health, and many people turn to it alongside conventional medical care — for example, to address chronic fatigue, digestive issues, or general support for a healthy lifestyle. The most common question is how much of it is covered, and under which framework. Here's how to check that correctly in your policy or service rider.

What naturopathy is, in brief

Naturopathy is a treatment approach that combines nutritional guidance, recommendations for dietary supplements and herbal remedies, and lifestyle guidance — based on a view of the body as a single interconnected system. In Israel, naturopathy is not a regulated medical profession the way medicine or clinical nutrition are, so there is no uniform government licensing for practitioners in the field. The practical implication: it's worth checking the specific practitioner's training, rather than assuming everyone who calls themselves a naturopath went through the same training.

How to check coverage for naturopathy

Naturopathy is not part of the basic public healthcare basket, and usually not covered under a "standard" private health policy either. It may be included under shaban (the HMO's supplementary insurance) or under a dedicated complementary-medicine service rider, but not all HMOs recognize it to the same degree — there are meaningful differences between HMOs. The only way to know for certain is to check the list of recognized areas in your current service rider, rather than relying on what's generally the norm.

How many sessions are subsidized, and what's the copay

Service riders that do recognize naturopathy usually include an annual cap on the number of subsidized sessions, and sometimes distinguish between a longer initial assessment session and shorter follow-up sessions. The copay also varies. Don't assume a fixed number — check the current table with your HMO or insurer, since the price list and terms change over time.

When you must inform your treating physician

This is the most important point from a safety standpoint, not just an insurance one: if you take regular medication, are pregnant, or have a chronic medical condition, it's important to tell your treating physician about any dietary supplement or herbal remedy the naturopath recommends. Some supplements can affect the efficacy of prescription medications or create unwanted interactions, so naturopathic guidance is meant to work alongside your regular medical follow-up, not replace it.

Naturopathy vs. similar areas

Naturopathy is sometimes confused with nutritional counseling or clinical dietetics, and with functional medicine, which overlap significantly but differ in training and certification. If you're not sure which direction fits you, it's worth checking the differences before booking, and confirming that the specific practitioner you chose is recognized for reimbursement under your service rider — not just that the field itself appears on the list.

How to choose a naturopath

Beyond the reimbursement question, it's worth checking the practitioner's training certificate, their specific experience treating your condition, and whether they're listed among your HMO's or insurer's recognized practitioners, if relevant. Going to your HMO's own complementary-medicine clinic can be a convenient way to make sure the practitioner has already been vetted.

How Ravit can help

You can send Ravit your service rider or policy on WhatsApp and ask whether naturopathy is included, how many sessions you get per year, and what the copay is — with a reference to the exact clause. And when there's no certainty, Ravit says so honestly instead of guessing.

The information in this article is general only and does not constitute medical, insurance, legal, or pension advice, and is not a substitute for reading your policy terms or consulting a licensed professional. Coverage, amounts, and conditions vary between policies and change over time — always verify against your own specific policy and an authorized professional.