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Alternative Healthcare Providers in the US - Market Research Report (2016-2031)

Lucy Tang Lucy Tang New York, United States Last Updated: February 2026 NAICS 62139b

Revenue

$39.0bn

2026

$39.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

427k

Businesses

313k

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Alternative Healthcare Providers in the US industry analysis

Interest in holistic wellness solutions has surged, positioning the alternative healthcare industry as a popular market broader healthcare sector. Consumers actively seek non-traditional modalities such as chiropractic care, supplements, acupuncture and herbal remedies to address preventive health needs and chronic conditions. The mainstream medical community increasingly integrates holistic approaches and insurers now selectively reimburse alternative therapies, drawing more consumers to the market. Advancements in technology—particularly telehealth and social media engagement—also support rapid expansion by boosting accessibility and patient education. The intersection of consumer empowerment, validated treatment efficacy and growing acceptance by traditional medicine continues to transform the industry’s landscape and drives sustained revenue gains. Revenue has been rising at a CAGR of 3.3% to an estimated $39.0 billion over the past five years, including expected growth of 3.2% in 2026. 

Trends and Insights

  • Alternative healthcare is becoming mainstream as consumer interest and spending soar. People are turning to alternative health therapies because of increased awareness of wellness, expanded insurance coverage and the pandemic’s impact on health priorities, which has driven industry growth and investor attention.
  • Young adults are driving the boom in alternative wellness solutions. Adults aged 18 to 44 are turning to nontraditional health therapies, with social media and digital platforms influencing their choices and making wellness trends more accessible. Their proactive mindset and disposable income make them more willing to invest in memberships and recurring services, creating an opportunity for brands to tailor their marketing to this demographic.
  • The availability of alternative healthcare closely mirrors population density. Patients in metropolitan areas enjoy plentiful access, but those in rural regions often struggle to find alternative medical options, highlighting the challenges in healthcare access.
  • Alternative healthcare operates beyond mainstream medical practices. A strong reputation bolsters credibility, reassuring patients of the provider's expertise and the effectiveness of their treatments.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2016-2031)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $39.0bn in 2026.

Trends and Insights

Consumers’ interest in alternative healthcare reaches a new height

  • Alternative healthcare isn't anything new, but fast-growing spending on complementary approaches showcases a greater acceptance of them than ever before. People are better informed about the benefits of preventive care and are actively seeking treatments and supplements they perceive as supporting long-term health.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Alternative Healthcare Providers in the US
Revenue (2016-2031)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2026-2031)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Alternative healthcare providers will continue to face regulatory and market challenges 

  • States are emphasizing prevention and wellness services in their healthcare policies, aligning with essential health benefits. This shift offers companies in the alternative care sector opportunities to engage in preventive healthcare. They might partner with insurance providers to expand coverage options and enhance consumer access to these innovative services.

Biggest companies in the Alternative Healthcare Providers in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2026
Revenue
2026
Profit
2026
Profit Margin (%)
2026

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Alternative Healthcare Providers in the US industry.

Products & Services Segmentation

Alternative Healthcare Providers in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Acupuncture, Massage therapy and Meditation and relaxation. Acupuncture is the largest segment of the Alternative Healthcare Providers in the US.

Trends and Insights

Insurance coverage fuels growth in acupuncture service utilization

  • Acupuncture is a practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of fine needles into targeted body points to stimulate energy flow, aiming to relieve pain and enhance overall wellness, often delivered in clinical or wellness settings nationwide.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry provides health services not classified in any other industry, like meditation, acupuncture or massage. The practitioners in this industry operate private or group practices in their own offices.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States include Acupuncture, Massage therapy, Meditation, Naturopathy and Other (midwifery, nutrition, respiratory, homeopathy, hypnotherapy).

Companies

Companies covered in the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States include .

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States include acupuncture, complementary and alternative medicine (cam), conventional care, naturopathy, homeopathy, ayurveda and biofeedback.

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 621399 - Alternative Healthcare Providers in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Alternative healthcare is becoming mainstream as consumer interest and spending soar. People are turning to alternative health therapies because of increased awareness of wel...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
  • Employees, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
  • Businesses, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
  • Profit, including historical (2016-2026)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Young adults are driving the boom in alternative wellness solutions. Adults aged 18 to 44 are turning to nontraditional health therapies, with social media and digital platfo...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2026
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2026
  • Major market segmentation in 2026

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The availability of alternative healthcare closely mirrors population density. Patients in metropolitan areas enjoy plentiful access, but those in rural regions often struggl...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2026

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2026
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2026
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2026
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2026

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Alternative healthcare operates beyond mainstream medical practices. A strong reputation bolsters credibility, reassuring patients of the provider's expertise and the effecti...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2021-2026
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Alternative Healthcare Providers in the US industry.

Analyst insights

Small, locally focused companies dominate the alternative healthcare landscape. Limited insurance coverage, widespread skepticism and a unique patient-centric approach drive ...

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Rising incomes enable more people to explore alternative therapies. Health insurance often doesn't cover alternative treatments, so higher incomes allow individuals to afford...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2016-2031) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2016-2031) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profit is being squeezed as rising wages and industry competition overtake earlier revenue gains. The shift is forcing providers to seek collaborations or enhance services to...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2019-2024)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2019-2024)
  • Income Statement (2019-2024)
  • Balance Sheet (2019-2024)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2019-2024)
  • Coverage Ratios (2019-2024)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2019-2024)
  • Operating Ratios (2019-2024)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2016-2031)
  • Revenue per Employee (2016-2031)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2016-2031)
  • Employees per Establishment (2016-2031)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2016-2031)
  • Average Wage (2016-2031)
  • Wages/Revenue (2016-2031)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2016-2031)
  • IVA/Revenue (2016-2031)
  • Imports/Demand (2016-2031)
  • Exports/Revenue (2016-2031)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2016-2031)
  • IVA (2016-2031)
  • Establishments (2016-2031)
  • Enterprises (2016-2031)
  • Employment (2016-2031)
  • Exports (2016-2031)
  • Imports (2016-2031)
  • Wages (2016-2031)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States in 2026?

The market size of the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States is $39.0bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States in 2026?

There are 313k businesses in the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.3 % between 2021 and 2026.

How may import tariffs affect the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States?

The Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States?

The Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 3.3 % between 2021 and 2026.

What is the forecast growth of the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States is expected to grow.

What does the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States include?

Acupuncture and Massage therapy are part of the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States.

How competitive is the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Alternative Healthcare Providers industry in the United States.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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