Healthy Topics

Does Health Insurance Cover Chiropractic? Let’s See

According to a 2015 Gallup poll, 65% of In their lifetimes, Americans have sought medical attention for neck or back pain. Unfortunately, chiropractic treatment can be very expensive without insurance, which raises the question, “Chiropractic care is it covered by insurance?”

To help you understand what is covered, this page offers a summary of the information you need to know about chiropractic treatment and health insurance plans.

If your current health insurance plan is challenging to comprehend, you might want to look into alternative providers who place a higher value on your comprehension of the services offered and accessibility to the best coverage.

How Does Medical Insurance Cover Chiropractic Treatment?

The popularity of chiropractic care, which provides an alternative to drugs and surgeries, keeps growing. This means many insurance companies cover chiropractic care as part of what they call “alternative” care. The majority of medical procedures, in our opinion, ought to be alternatives to all-natural, holistic techniques like chiropractic care. However, many insurance companies have limitations on what they will cover because it is classified as alternative care. Below, our team has listed some typical restrictions; however, to learn about your particular restrictions, we advise you to carefully review your policy. As always, feel free to contact us at 303-828-3000 in Erie or 303-772-1950 in Longmont, CO, if you have any questions about your specific coverage or how we can help you get the most out of your medical benefits.

What If My Insurance Provider Doesn’t Cover Chiropractic Care?

Even though chiropractic care is increasingly popular across the United States and has been shown to be the most effective treatment for many musculoskeletal conditions, some insurance companies still refuse to pay for it. In these situations, patients may foot the bill for their own medical care. Because chiropractic treatment options are so effective, many patients still choose to pay out-of-pocket for their care. In these situations, it is even more important to choose a chiropractor who, like our doctors, places a priority on quickly and effectively healing patients.

Does Health Insurance Cover Chiropractic Let's See
Does Health Insurance Cover Chiropractic? Let’s See

Do Medical Insurance Plans Need to Cover Chiropractic Treatment?

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all medical insurance plans must provide coverage for physical therapy. However, health insurance companies are not required to offer coverage for chiropractic treatment.

That being said, thanks to the growing popularity of chiropractic treatment, many still do. The specifics will vary greatly based on your particular health insurance plan, especially because chiropractic treatment is sometimes considered to be “alternative treatment” by health insurance companies.

How Can I Find Chiropractic Health Coverage?

Now that you know whether chiropractic services are covered by insurance and how most insurers do so, hopefully you can make an informed decision. As usual, there are many differences between plans’ benefits and prices, so doing some research can help you find one that suits your needs while also saving you money. If you’d like to get started researching plans that cover chiropractic services, eHealth has a wide range of individual and family plans to fit different needs and budgets. You should keep in mind that plan costs are governed by law, so you will always pay the same amount for insurance coverage, regardless of where you purchase it. Additionally, it makes sense to take the time to compare plans in order to find one that best suits your needs. It’s easy to compare plans side by side in one place with the help of our free plan finder tool. Additionally, eHealth’s dependable licensed insurance agents are available at any time if you need assistance.

What Do Chiropractors Do?

The neuromusculoskeletal system of patients is helped by chiropractors through prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. In plain English, patients seek the help of chiropractors most frequently for back and neck pain. By offering spinal adjustments and supporting proper alignment, which aims to lessen or completely eliminate pain, they are able to achieve this feat.

Specifically, chiropractors work on the following parts of the body found in the back and neck:

  • Bones
  • Nerves
  • Muscles
  • Tendons
  • Ligaments

A common question surrounding chiropractors is whether or not they’re “real doctors”. Despite the fact that they lack a M.D. and therefore do not have the title of “Dr.”, they should have extensive experience in the field, education credentials in related programs of study, and a valid license to practice. Before scheduling an appointment, if in doubt, inquire about your chiropractor’s training and experience.

Summary: Does Health Insurance Cover Chiropractic?

Although it is not technically required by law, many different health insurance plans from a wide range of sources frequently cover visits to the chiropractor. The particulars of your coverage, such as how frequently you can visit, which chiropractors you can see, and how long you’re covered after an injury, will, however, greatly vary depending on the scope of your plan in particular. When it comes time to renew your health insurance plan, you might want to check to see if chiropractic services are at least partially covered if you frequently experience back, spine, or neck pain that doesn’t have a clear cause, such as arthritis.

Make sure to work with a transparent and reliable business that prioritizes the patient’s mental and physical wellbeing no matter what kind of plan you select or how extensive you want your chiropractic coverage to be. You can get the chiropractic services you need, when you need them, without undue stress or having to read through the fine print of your contract, when you know exactly what you’re covered for and how much everything will cost.