Does Insurance Cover Chiropractic?
Have you been in a car accident recently? Or maybe you have lower back pain from an injury at home, or from repetitive strain at the gym. In any of these situations, if you’re looking to schedule a visit with your local chiropractor for the first time, you’re probably wondering if your health insurance covers chiropractic care. We’re here to breakdown the facts you need to know about insurance coverage related to chiropractic care.
Does Health Insurance Cover Chiropractic Treatment?
If you need to see a chiropractor in the Sunshine State or anywhere else, the first thing on your mind is likely if your insurance will foot the bill. The short answer is “yes.” Most health insurance companies will cover chiropractic care these days, at least to some degree (about 87% of private policies). It is typically included in most health insurance plans, including major medical plans, workers’ comp, Medicare, a select few Medicaid plans, and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans for federal employees.
However, there are several factors that will affect whether your insurance plan does cover chiropractic, including what services you’re looking to get, your particular insurance policy (ex: PPO vs HMO) and health insurance provider, and many more.
For example, most plans will cover initial and some rehabilitative care for acute conditions, but will not provide coverage for maintenance or wellness treatments. Nonetheless, it is worth examining your policy and calling your carrier to find more about your individual health benefits.
Insurance Coverage of Chiropractic for Military, Veterans & Federal Employees
Furthermore, members of the US armed services are eligible for chiropractic care under their insurance at more than 60 military bases, and a similar number of VA medical facilities.
Not only that, but Congress has mandated that certain chiropractic services be covered by any American who has Medicaid or Medicare. If you are a federal employee, chiropractic care is included in your insurance package. Every state in the union has mandated chiropractic care coverage for Workers Compensation claims, as well.
Assuming you have chiropractic coverage, the amount you pay and the amount the insurance pays will vary according to the terms of each individual plan, as well as other factors, such as:
- -The location of the chiropractic clinic
- -The tests and services you need from the chiropractor
- -The type of technology the clinic uses (the more state-of-the-art technology, the more you’ll likely pay)
- -Other insurance policies and/or wellness plans you may have, and how they work with your primary policy
So before you schedule an appointment with your nearby chiropractor, call your insurance provider to figure out what type of chiropractic care (if any) is covered. Some things to go over with them:
- -Check to see if your chiropractic care team is listed among their approved providers for those services.
- -Determine if your insurance carrier is an HMO (Healthcare Management Organization) or PPO (Preferred provider organization). HMOs typically only cover practitioners who are on their approved list, while PPOs tend to pay for any chiropractic service, usually up to 80% of fees charged by providers not on their preferred list.
If your insurance isn’t covered, talk to your nearby chiropractor’s office team to discuss alternatives to pay for your visits. Many chiropractors have special financing plans and offer cash discounts for their patients.
What are Some Common Health Insurance Providers That Cover Chiropractic Care?
Coverage, of course, will depend on your local chiropractic office, but the most common ones in Florida are typically
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida
- Humana
- Cigna
- UnitedHealthCare
- AVmed
How Much Does a Chiropractor Cost With Insurance?
If you have an insurance policy that covers chiropractic, you can expect the insurance to cover anywhere from 50% to 100% of the cost, depending on your individual policy benefits and the treatments you receive. You pay the portion the insurance does not cover. Having insurance makes your visit much more affordable.
How Much Will You Pay Out of Pocket for a Chiropractic Visit?
Many people actually find chiropractic appointments to be quite affordable, with or without insurance.
A visit to a chiropractor will on average cost between $30 and $200 per visit, depending on where you live in Florida and the type of services and treatment that are needed.
An initial consultation may be provided at no charge, or new patients can expect to pay slightly more during the first visit because an overall health consultation is usually required (ex: X-rays, etc.) Again, it’s best to call your local chiropractor for proper pricing.
Call Our Chiropractor in Hollywood & Tamarac Today
To find out more about your chiropractic insurance benefits in South Florida, call Back to Mind today. We have two convenient locations to serve you in Hollywood & Tamarac. Our friendly staff is here to help you figure out your insurance benefits before you come to your first appointment.
Hollywood, FL chiropractic location
450 North Park Road
Suite #200
Hollywood, FL, 33021
(954)-986-4559
Tamarac, FL chiropractic location
7431 N University Drive, Suite #206
Tamarac, FL 33321
(954)-986-4559