Chiropractic care can enhance your overall health and alleviate painful symptoms that come after an injury or even with certain illnesses. In fact, chiropractic care is often just as effective and less expensive than other treatment options you might have.
In the past, it was rare for insurance to cover chiropractic care, but these days it’s much more common. How much can you expect to pay yourself if insurance covers chiropractic services?
Your deductible and copay
Even if your plan covers an array of chiropractic services, just about every insurance plan comes with a deductible, and many come with copay requirements. You’re responsible to pay for these regardless of whether you’re getting covered care.
The first step in understanding what you have to pay is figuring out what your deductible is and how much, if any of it, you’ve already paid in the year.
Your plan specifics
The next step in understanding your costs is to find out what your insurance does pay specifically. Some insurance plans will pay nothing for chiropractic care. Some will pay for a certain number of visits per year, often around 30. Some insurance plans will pay if it’s a referral from another doctor.
Some will pay for the visit itself but will not pay for any tests your chiropractor may order, such as an x-ray. In nearly all cases, you’ll only be covered if you meet with an in-network chiropractor.
Paying on your own
in most cases, a visit to a chiropractor will cost between $30 and $200, depending on what kind of treatment you get and whether you are mainly getting a consultation or actually receiving therapy.
Your Chiropractor may also suggest that you take certain supplements, get massage therapy, or get an orthopedic tool, such as a special pillow or physical therapy equipment, to help in your recovery or rehabilitation.
What factors determine costs?
Experienced chiropractors will, of course, command higher rates than inexperienced ones, and with that experience usually comes advanced specializations that allow them to serve you better.
A good chiropractor will also be able to offer you access to state-of-the-art technology like laser therapy and nutrient IV hydration drips. While these do come at a cost, they also provide better care and shorten recovery periods.
Getting financing
Many private clinics have financing arrangements to help patients pay for the care they need, especially if you need ongoing treatment for some months.
There are also external lending companies that will work with some chiropractors to provide the financing you need. In most cases, you’ll need to meet certain requirements to qualify for a chiropractic loan, just as you would with a car loan.
Coverage between insurance plans
You never know when an injury or illness may require chiropractic care, and it’s possible you may need help when you’re between insurance policies, such as when you move off your parents’ insurance, travel, or move to another state.
Agile Health Insurance offers plans that can cover you for up to a year so you don’t have to go into debt because of an unexpected injury or illness.
Deciding what you need
It’s not uncommon to wonder whether chiropractic care is a good idea, especially if you’re unsure about the costs. But in many cases, a chiropractor can offer you better results than even some other, more “traditional” forms of healthcare.
For example, the European Spine Journal published the results of the clinical trial that found that chiropractic adjustments were successful in treating sciatica symptoms 72% of the time. Physical therapy only worked 20% of the time and corticosteroid injections only 50%.
A visit to the chiropractor could be one of the best decisions you ever make, especially if you’re suffering from back or neck pain, joint swelling, or haven’t been able to get the relief you need for a chronic condition. Check with your insurance company, make sure you’re covered even if you’re between plans, and then make the decision that’s best for you.
