Many people using or thinking about using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments may have questions about paying for treatment. This fact sheet provides a general overview of related topics and suggests sources for additional information.CAM Spending in the United StatesAccording to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), adults in the United States spent an estimated $33.9 billion out-of-pocket on CAM treatments during the past 12 months. Of the $33.9 billion, adults spent an estimated $22.0 billion on self-care costs (i.e., CAM products, classes, and materials), while they spent the remaining $11.9 billion on visits to CAM practitioners. Out-of-pocket expenditures on CAM treatments accounted for approximately 1.5 percent of total health care expenditures and 11.2 percent of the total out-of-pocket health care expenditures in the United States.
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