Does Medicare Cover Chiropractic Care?

14 April 2022

chiropractic medicare coverage

Will Medicare Cover Chiropractic Care?

Did you know that Medicare pays for chiropractic care? Learn what types of procedures are covered and what kinds of limitations apply to chiropractic care. Learn what chiropractic procedures are not covered and which ones are. Read on to learn more! ACA supports modernizing Medicare’s chiropractic coverage and giving you more options to manage your health. The opioid crisis has worsened in recent years, and chiropractic treatments offer a non-drug approach to pain management.

Does Medicare pay for going to a chiropractor?

Does Medicare pay for going to a chiropractor, or part of the chiropractic service? Part B, Medicare’s alternative health care program, covers some chiropractic services. These visits are considered medically necessary and ordered by your doctor to treat a specific health condition. The Medicare plan does not set limits on how often you can visit a chiropractor. However, you may be required to pay a copayment before Medicare will cover your visits.

Most people are surprised to learn that Medicare will cover some or all of the cost of going to a chiropractor. Some services are not covered by Medicare, like massage therapy or X-rays. However, some Medicare Advantage plans do cover some aspects of chiropractic care, including doctor visits and some related treatments. Medicare will pay at least 80% of the cost of chiropractic services, as long as the treatment is medically necessary.

What is Chiropractic procedures are covered?

Did you know that Medicare will pay for your chiropractic care? This type of care is a form of manual manipulation of the spine that corrects subluxations in the spinal column. This treatment involves manual adjustment of the spine to restore normal motion and alignment. Medicare Part B will cover 80% of the cost of a chiropractic visit for people who qualify. This type of service can be very beneficial for patients suffering from various types of pain and is often used by senior citizens. It is not a good idea to go to your chiropractor without primary health coverage, as you may end up paying for the co-pay out-of-pocket for additional services.

X-rays ordered by a chiropractor are not covered by Medicare, however, they may be covered if your medical doctor orders them. Medicare also does not cover massage therapy or acupuncture. However, if your primary care physician orders an X-ray for you because you are suffering from low back pain, your chiropractor will be able to refer to the X-ray in your medical record if you decide to see a chiropractor.

What limitations are Placed on Chiropractic care?

While Medicare does not place limits on the number of chiropractic visits, some Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC) may require certain documentation to be reviewed after a certain number of sessions. This has created an unfounded myth that Medicare only covers up to 12 chiropractic sessions per year. Nevertheless, doctors of chiropractic have numerous legal options to challenge MAC funding decisions. This article will look at some of those options. Hopefully, you’ll find these resources helpful.

Medicare Cover Chiropractic Care

Among the many benefits of chiropractic care are its ability to help patients manage their health conditions through non-invasive methods. Chiropractors are trained to treat a wide range of common conditions, such as musculoskeletal pain, and they use alternative methods to achieve this. Some of these methods include soft-tissue therapy, which helps relax tight muscles, releases fascia tension, and adjusts joints to increase range of motion. Some patients may benefit from joint bracing to support sprained joints, or from stretches to regain range of motion.

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