If you’re suffering from chronic back pain, headaches, joint pain or stiffness, or you’re recovering from a sports injury or accident, visiting a full service chiropractor could be the most effective way to speed up your recovery and improve your overall health. More people are turning to chiropractic care as an alternative to surgery and drugs. It’s heralded as an effective treatment that is both non-invasive and holistic. Here, we’re taking a closer look at the benefits of chiropractic care and determining what to do if your insurance does or does not cover this type of care.
What is Chiropractic Care?
When most people think about a chiropractor, they probably envision going to a professional who simply cracks your back. But in reality, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to professional chiropractic care. Chiropractors are trained medical practitioners experienced in treating a wide range of health issues.
Chiropractic care, at its basis, consists of a series of spinal manipulations that realign the spine to its proper positioning. When performed by a professional, these alignments and manipulations can relieve back pain, reduce joint pain and stiffness, and even improve your circulation.
Who Could Benefit from Visiting a Chiropractor?
Many different types of patients could benefit from a visit to a chiropractor. Treating back pain and discomfort is a vital aspect of chiropractic care, but it isn’t the only type of patient who should consider this type of holistic, non-invasive care.
If you find yourself experiencing one of the following health issues, visiting a chiropractor’s office may be beneficial for you:
- Chronic back pain.
- Headaches or migraines.
- Joint pain.
- Joint stiffness.
- Sciatica pain.
- Inflammatory arthritis.
- Workers who sit for long periods of time.
- Car accident victims.
- Sports injuries.
Even if you aren’t currently in pain, regular chiropractic care can be an ideal method of preventative care. Especially if you’re an athlete or if you enjoy an active lifestyle, chiropractic care can help you prevent injuries and boost your overall performance.
Are Chiropractors Covered by Insurance?
This is one of the most common questions that people have before visiting a chiropractor. Luckily, in most cases, the answer is yes. The majority of health insurance plans will cover chiropractic care. This type of coverage has increased in recent decades as the benefits of chiropractic care have become more evident. In fact, there are currently over 70,000 practicing chiropractors in the United States alone. Clearly, as the number shows, visiting a chiropractor is both common and beneficial.
However, it’s important to first understand the details of your insurance coverage. Most insurance plans don’t simply offer a blank slate when it comes to receiving treatment. For example, some plans may require that you have a referral from a primary care physician. Some may only allow you to visit a chiropractor who is included in their network. This one is relatively easy to understand as your insurer should provide you with a complete list of all the chiropractors currently in their network.
Additionally, some insurance plans may have a cap on the numbers of visits that they will cover. This cap may be based on a monthly or yearly basis. Regardless of these potential limitations on your health coverage, what’s most important is that you receive the best care possible. Don’t allow concerns about insurance to impact your ability to recover from an accident or injury. Call your insurer directly to receive the exact details of your plan. In many cases, the chiropractic office will also be able to help you understand what’s covered and what’s not.
What if My Insurance Doesn’t Cover Chiropractic Care?
Of course, it’s no guarantee that your health insurance will cover chiropractic care. But even if your insurance plan doesn’t cover a visit to a chiropractor, this doesn’t mean you should give up hope. There are still options available to you. First, you should reach out to your insurance company directly. Explain your situation and see if there is the possibility to have this type of treatment covered. Some people are shocked to find out that their insurance companies will actually work with them. If you need chiropractic care, it’s always worth it to make this quick call.
You should also make sure you get a referral from your primary care physician. This referral serves as evidence that this chiropractic care is necessary for your wellness and recovery. Your physician should have no issue providing this reference for you. If this doesn’t work, you should reach out to the chiropractor’s office directly. They may still be able to find a way to work with you by offering a discount or referring you to an alternative. In some cases, you may be forced to pay out of pocket, but the office may offer a payment program to make it more manageable as the payment is spread over time.
Conclusion – Are Chiropractors Covered by Insurance?
Chiropractors have helped countless people recover from accidents and injuries by relieving pain, improving mobility, reducing inflammation, and even improving the health of the nervous system. By realigning the spine to its proper positioning, your entire body will benefit. This is why chiropractic care is considered a holistic type of treatment. If you’re suffering from a car accident, sports injury, back pain, headaches or migraines, or joint pain, visiting a chiropractor could prove to be extremely beneficial.
And luckily, most insurance plans will cover this type of specialized care. Of course, it’s important first to make a call to your insurer to make sure that this treatment will be covered. Some plans may limit your treatment by requesting a referral, operating only within their designated network, or capping the number of chiropractic visits. If your insurer doesn’t cover a visit to the chiropractor, there’s still hope. You can contact the insurance company directly to see if they’ll work with you. The chiropractor’s office may also be able to offer you some type of discount or a program for those who aren’t covered by insurance. Either way, it’s important to seek out the care you need.
