Hiking and Camping for $500 Per Day? Let Me Call My Insurer

An emerging therapy method for troubled teens is gaining acceptance in the medical community, and both insurers and plaintiffs’ attorneys are taking notice.

Outdoor behavioral therapy—often dubbed “wilderness therapy"—seeks to treat young people with behavioral or substance abuse issues by combining traditional therapy methods with outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. With price tags that can top $500 per day for weeks- or months-long treks, many of these programs used to be largely out of reach for all but the wealthiest families. That’s beginning to change, thanks to a recent shift in federal law, emerging research and a handful ...