Why do Naturopaths cost so much?

Question

I want to see a Naturopathic doctor but I see that they charge over $100 per hour. This seems like quite a bit for an hour's work. Anyone know why it costs so much? Is it a rip off?

Answer 1

It isn't a rip off.  It will be the best thing you have ever done for yourself.  Try different ones if you need to.  they are all very different.  Get a friend to recommend one to start with.  

Here in WA they are covered by insurance.  I have only had ND's as my physicians for the past 20 years.  Everytime I think I better go to a regular MD I just leave shaking my head because they are just guessing and using drugs.

ND's are just guessing to but they are hopefully getting you to eat healthier and take better care of yourself which is what it is really all about.

Answer 2

Perhaps they need the extra money to pay off their students loans? Fact: Chiropractors, for instance, have a student default loan rate 4 times that of regular MD's.  Naturopaths? I have no idea why they charge so much. . . . what con artists they are.

Answer 3

I've seen a Naturopath..a  Roger Gervais,  he charges $75 an hour.. he did more in that hour than a regular doctor would.   hair analysis, some pressure treatment, body alignment.  He asked a few questions and then proceeded. No wasted time!   He also told me that his charge his high cause he has to pay for the equipment.  No subsidies from the government for that!  There are some Naturopaths charge upto $175 an hour!

A simple herbalist without equipment charges between $35 to $50 per hour! A herbalist often refers patient to a Naturopath!

Answer 4

Because: 1)they are rare and deal in a specialty.  People in high demand cost more.  2)He is a Dr. with additional specialty in alternative meds as well.  And it cost more for him to go to school and has more debt from schooling than a regular Dr.  It's not really a rip off.  If you think about, a Dr. in a clinic may charge $60 per VISIT.  and he may see how many patients in an hour...  4, 6 8? If a regular Dr. saw one patient every ten minutes ( which is about the most time they spend with one), he would be making $300 per hour!  When you look at it that way $100 per hour...and they spend a WHOLE hour with just you....seems like a bargain!  60 bucks for 10 minutes is a rip off if you ask me...

Answer 5

Naturopaths really don't get that much more than other doctors for their time.  You do have to take into consideration, though, that they do not get the perks from the pharmaceutical companies that other doctors do.

In my experience, a naturopath accomplishes more in that one hour (and uses the whole hour )  than a regular doctor.

A regular doctor often overbooks, cuts time short, will prescribe a medication before taking the time to ask more questions and get to the root of a problem.

A naturopath does not see as many patients in one day as other doctors-  they take their time with each patient and attempt to get to the root of the problems rather than treating just the symptoms.  

Because of this, in my opinion anyway, a naturopaths time is often more valuable.

Answer 6

I think you do not understand.  The ND if they are a true ND went to school after college for 4 years.  100 per hour is a bargin.  How much do you think an MD or DO makes in an hour?  A chiropractic doctor may see 10 pateints in and hour at 50 dollars per visit.  If the ND is charging you 100 dollars and giving you a whole hour of time.  You my friend are getting a bargin.  Lets say at 100 per hour the ND sees 8 patients per day.  That is about 4000 per week.  So the ND would gross 200,000 per year.  Out of that the doctor must pay rent, insurance, salaries and all other office costs.  No take a DC for example lets say they see only 30 patients per day.  That is 4 patients per hour.  Say at 50 dollars a piece.  That is 1500 per day and 7500 per week.  That would be 30 thousand per month and 360 thousand per year.  Take the MD who sees 20 patients per day at 100 dollars per visit average.  That is 2000 per day and 10 thousand per week and 40 thousand per month and 480 thousand per year.  Do you understand a little better.  The ND went to school just as long as the DC or MD if they are a licensed ND.  Why should they get less than any other doctor?

Answer 7

You are not paying for the actual time and actual work but you pay for their specialist knowledge.  They charge you for knowing how to help you.