Receiving chiropractic care can be an excellent way to resolve problems with chronic pain, improve your range of movement, and bolster your overall health. These services have helped countless people feel better, recover from injuries faster, and meet their fitness goals among many other things. If you’ve been dealing with a persistent problem or simply want access to natural therapies that your conventional doctor cannot provide, you may be wondering whether chiropractic care is covered by your insurance.
Fortunately, most health insurance companies do have provisions in their plans for chiropractic services. However, when chiropractic care is a covered service, there are often special restrictions and requirements that policyholders must honor. For instance, it may be necessary for you to:
- Choose an in-network chiropractor
- Receive a referral for chiropractic care from your general doctor
- Have an established, progressive treatment plan
Many insurance companies also have strict limitations on the number of covered visits. Moreover, nearly all coverage for these services requires policyholders to make out-of-pocket co-payments and to cover all prescription fees. Although chiropractors don’t generally prescribe pain relievers or other medications, many integrative chiropractic clinics offer supplemental support. If your chiropractor recommends any form of supplementation, payment for all related products will likely be your responsibility.
One of the best ways to determine whether or not your policy covers chiropractic care is by speaking directly with your insurer. You can ask about any requirements concerning the use of in-network providers, and you can also ask for detailed information on the coverage limitations that exist in your plan. In many instances, insurance companies make it necessary for chiropractors to devise active care plans, and to then adhere to these plans throughout the duration of care.
Active treatment plans as requested by insurers establish the length of care, the exact therapies supplied, and the expected progression of health improvements. When chiropractic care is not a covered service, or when people want chiropractic treatments that are not included in their plans, there’s still a variety of feasible and easy ways to pay for treatment.
Exploring Your Options in Paying for Chiropractic Care
One of the most common reasons for seeking chiropractic care is for pain relief following an injury event. In instances in which people are not personally responsible for their own injuries, chiropractic services may be available on a contingency basis. Chiropractic patients with both active personal injury claims and adequate legal representation, may be able to delay payment for their care until their settlements are received. In these instances, chiropractors can work directly with personal injury attorneys by submitting their bills to these professionals, detailing the work they’ve performed, and collecting their payments before settlement monies are disbursed to the actual claimant.
Establishing these relationships can be beneficial for everyone. By accurately documenting injuries and the progression of recovery, chiropractors supply valuable evidence for supporting personal injury claims. Moreover, their willingness to collect payment from attorneys post-settlement rather than before, helps make essential treatments more accessible. Chiropractors are also willing to accept payment plans, credit cards, debit cards, and even cash payments or personal checks. They can additionally structure their services in affordable ways so that patients are never having to spend beyond their means. This can include streamlining multi-pronged treatment plans to only include essential elements, or billing insurance companies for the services that they will cover, while only billing clients for services or treatments that are not honored by insurers.
Being forthright with chiropractors about your spending abilities will allow you to learn more about the different payment options that each practice provides. It is often to the benefit of insurance companies to pay for chiropractic care. Chiropractors are frequently able to leverage treatments that produce long-term results. In many instances, these services have prevented the need for invasive surgeries, and for long-term use of pain relieving medications.
With chiropractors focused on helping their patients implement needs-specific lifestyle changes, adopt the right ergonomic practices and tools, and maintain good posture, good balance, and good range of movement, these professionals can actually save insurers significant amounts of money over time. While many conventional treatments for neck, back, and shoulder pain provide short-term relief, chiropractic care often offers long-term solutions.
With the right therapies, chiropractic patients can enjoy both immediate relief, and the ability to proactively prevent musculoskeletal problems from recurring. To find out more about the benefits of chiropractic care or to schedule an initial office visit, call us now at 205-637-1363.
