Lyme disease care in Southbury
For people with Lyme disease, or symptoms after a tick bite. We start with your whole story. You'll see Dr. Alice Bell.
We accept many insurance plans. Not accepted: Medicare and Medicaid. See insurance and payment
What Lyme disease care involves here
We offer care plans for patients with Lyme disease and co-infections. Each plan is built from your history and your symptoms, not a fixed protocol.
What a plan can include
A plan can include botanical medicines, nutrition, and support for your immune system and for pain.
Alongside antibiotics and your other doctors
Sometimes a course of antibiotics is needed. We can work with you and your doctor during and after antibiotic treatment.
Signs of Lyme disease
Some symptoms need urgent care, not an appointment. For a severe headache with a stiff neck, chest pain, fainting, a racing or irregular heartbeat, facial drooping or trouble breathing, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Lyme disease can show up in many different ways, including:
- A bull's-eye rash
- Fatigue
- Painful joints
- Headaches
- Brain fog and other neurological problems
- Numbness and tingling
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Bell's palsy
- Meningitis (swelling of the membranes around the brain)
If you think you might have Lyme disease, make an appointment soon, with us or with your regular doctor.
Your doctor for Lyme disease care
Dr. Alice Bell, ND, MS
Naturopathic doctor
Dr. Bell believes that understanding your health starts with understanding your story.
Clinical interests
- Lyme disease and co-infections
- Digestive health
- Nutrition
- Cardiometabolic health
- Complex chronic illness
Education and training
- Doctor of Naturopathic MedicineUniversity of Bridgeport
- Master of Science in Human NutritionUniversity of Bridgeport
- FirstLine Therapy® certified
How she works
She takes time to look carefully at your symptoms, health history, nutrition, lifestyle, lab results and anything else that may be adding to a chronic or complex health concern.
Her approach is practical and fitted to you. She wants you to understand your health and take an active part in your care, so she explains complex information clearly, answers your questions and works with you as a partner.
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From technical writing to medicine
Dr. Bell's path to naturopathic medicine began outside of health care. She worked in the computer industry as a technical writer and manager, a career that called for analytical thinking, attention to detail and the ability to take complicated information and explain it clearly.
A growing interest in health and nutrition led her to naturopathic medicine. After becoming a naturopathic physician, she taught Anatomy and Physiology as an adjunct professor for more than ten years while building her practice. Teaching deepened her knowledge of the human body and her ability to explain health issues in words patients can follow.
Looking for connections
Dr. Bell especially enjoys the investigative side of medicine. Chronic illness does not always show up as one separate problem. Fatigue, digestive symptoms, pain, neurological complaints, sleep problems and other concerns may seem unrelated, but sometimes there are important connections between them.
She looks at your history, earlier tests and treatments, and the nutritional, digestive, metabolic, infectious and lifestyle factors that may be part of the overall picture.
What to expect from her
Her years as a teacher are still part of how she practices. Dr. Bell believes you should understand what your test results mean, why she recommends a particular treatment, and what you can do yourself to take part in your care.
How care works, from your first visit to follow-up
You'll see Dr. Alice Bell at our office in Southbury. Each step is explained before you decide anything.
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Your first visit
Book online or call (203) 264-2200. At your first visit, Dr. Bell goes through your story with you: when your symptoms began, the tests and treatments you've had, and what helped.
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Testing, if it helps
First, she looks at the testing you've already had. Dr. Bell explains any test she suggests before you decide. We work with a laboratory for Lyme-related blood work.
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A plan you understand
You and Dr. Bell agree on a plan, which can include botanical medicines and nutrition. She explains why she recommends each part, and works alongside your other doctors.
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Follow-up visits
You come back to go over your results and how you've been feeling. Dr. Bell explains what the results mean, answers your questions, and adjusts the plan with you.
Where you'll be seen
Office hours
- Tue 10am–5pm
- Thu 12pm–6pm
- Fri 10am–5pm
Insurance and payment
Check your plan before you book. If you're not sure what's covered, call us and ask.
- Plans we accept
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross / Blue Shield (except Federal)
- Cigna
- Connecticare
- Healthy CT
- Husky
- Oxford
- United Health
- United Healthcare
- Medicare and Medicaid
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Not accepted as insurance.
Medicare and Medicaid patients are welcome and pay out of pocket.
- Other plans
- Patients with other plans pay at the visit and submit for reimbursement.
- Paying without insurance
You have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of what your care will cost.
Read the Good Faith Estimate notice
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don't have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
- You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
- Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
- If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
- Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.
When you're ready, start with a first visit
Bring your questions and what you've tried so far. Dr. Alice Bell will go through it with you. Book online at any time, or call during office hours.