December 9, 2020

Chiropractic

Does Health Insurance Cover Visits to the Chiropractor?

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Paul Ruggiano

Written and Reviewed by

Paul Ruggiano

Chiropractor

Primary Office

Icon Medical Centers

232 SW 8th St
Miami, FL 33130

Various situations may leave you requiring chiropractic treatment. You may have injured yourself at home or suffered a strain injury in the gym, for example. Your injuries may also be the result of a vehicle or work-related accident. In these circumstances, it is natural to feel concerned about how you are going to afford treatment.

Fortunately, most health insurance policies cover accident chiropractic care, meaning you won’t need to pay for the treatment yourself. However, this is not always the case; it’s always best to check with your insurance provider beforehand.

What is chiropractic treatment?

Chiropractic treatment uses spinal manipulation to treat pain caused by various medical conditions. Some of the common health conditions treated by chiropractic care include back and neck strains, sports injuries, and arthritic pain.

The chiropractor uses hands-on spinal manipulation and other medical tools to relieve pain and improve the functionality of patients. Typically, patients need to complete a course of several chiropractic treatment sessions to see long-term results, although improvements may be seen after just one session.

Is it included in my health insurance?

Nowadays, the majority (around 87%) of private healthcare policies include chiropractic treatment. However, whether or not you are covered will depend on various factors. These include the reasons behind the treatment, what treatment services are required, and the level of medical coverage you have.

Your health insurance provider may agree to cover the initial treatment costs for acute medical conditions but may not cover the ongoing treatment. You should bear in mind that most insurance providers will not cover any treatment they deem to be medically unnecessary, i.e. for wellness purposes. You can find out what is included in your health coverage by referring to your policy or calling your provider to discuss the details of your health plan.

It may be worth upgrading your health insurance if your policy does not include accident chiropractic care. This is especially true if you have a chronic health condition like arthritis or are prone to sports injuries.

What happens if it’s not included in my coverage?

If your health insurance policy does not cover chiropractic treatment, then you will most likely have to cover the costs of the treatment yourself. Some accident doctors near you may offer payment plans where you can spread the cost of the treatment overall several months.

You should be aware that you might still be required to pay some treatment costs even when your health insurance does include chiropractic care. You may have to contribute up to 50% towards the cost of treatment depending on the individual terms of your policy and the treatments you receive. Having health insurance can significantly reduce the cost of chiropractic treatment, but it is not always completely free. Always check the terms of your policy before booking any treatment at an accident therapy clinic.

How do I arrange chiropractic treatment?

The easiest way to arrange chiropractic treatment is by contacting an auto accident chiropractor near you to arrange an initial consultation. A professional chiropractor at an accident clinic will discuss your concerns and assess you to identify the best course of treatment. You can find local chiropractors and compare reviews by using online search engines and healthcare platforms.