Does Medicare Cover Chiropractic?
Learn What Medicare Options You Have for Chiropractic Services
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Medicare for Chiropractic Care
Here in the United States, chiropractic care is considered an alternative or integrative form of care. Whilst it remains holistic in nature, it has proven benefits to alleviate pain in the long and short term.
Chiropractic medicine believes that a person’s health can be improved with practical treatments (called adjustments or manipulations) and instruments. Both are used to improve structure and alignment. Providers do a physical exam and take X-rays to check for structural and functional problems. They may also do lab work and other tests.
Some chiropractors give nutritional advice and offer complementary medicine. They also often recommend exercises to do at home. So when it is necessary, can it be covered with your Medicare and who can qualify for this? Different parts of your plan may cover the costs for you. If you would like assistance, please call us anytime at (888) 352-6672 and we can help you with comparing the right plans specifically for you.
What parts of Medicare cover care provided by a chiropractor?
1. Part A
Part A does not cover it. In fact Part A only covers only emergency procedures and hospital care. Chiropractors often offer non-emergency services and work in private practices and clinics.
2. Part B
Part B helps cover a service offered by chiropractors. This may include spinal manipulation for instant pain relief but there are some things to note. Here are the three main factors to consider:
- Treatment should be deemed necessary by a medical professional
- The problem to be treated must be an existing one (this is not a preventive treatment)
- You must pay your Part B deductible before Medicare pays. Once the deductible is met, Part B will cover 80% of the amount corresponding to the treatment approved by Medicare, you will owe 20%
Other services which may include X-rays, MRIs etc are not covered and therefore will have to be looked at as a separate issue.
3. Part C
Part C is also known as Medicare Advantage. This covers Medicare plans offered by private insurance companies. You may find that certain chiropractic treatments are offered in this policy, however, the terms will differ depending on each person’s medical history, background etc. you can discuss this with your provider to see if you can get any assistance via your Part C Medicare Advantage plan.
4. Part D
Part D covers prescription drugs and not the use of chiropractic services. However, if you require drugs related to the reason why you need chiropractic help, there may be some value in reviewing Part D plans. If you are interested in a Part D prescription drub plan too, please make sure you know how to avoid the Part D drug plan penalty.
Does Medicare Cover Care And Treatment Provided By A Chiropractor?
Yes it does. Medicare Part B may pay a percentage for one type of treatment. This will be provided by a chiropractor but you will need to obtain specific requirements to get the approval for treatment and payment. This will include information from your doctors to show that your condition is treatable and would benefit greatly from chiropractic care.
Is a referral from a medical doctor required for chiropractic treatment?
You may not need a referral to see a chiropractor but for your insurance to cover, you may need to have specific requirements and proof of this. You can contact directly to find out what requirements may be needed but you should be able to get a regular appointment through your existing plan without any issue.
Who will it cover?
It is known that with your health insurance plan, you are covered by workers’ compensation, Blue Cross or Blue Shield plans for employees, federal government employees, and many more. Also, you can access chiropractic care if you have been an active duty member in the military although this has some requirements. You will need to have operated at more than 60 military bases and it is also available to veterans at 36 large veteran medical facilities.
What are the care and treatment services provided by a chiropractor?
Spinal manipulation is the only type of treatment that Medicare Part B covers. This treatment, also known as adjustment, involves a controlled pushing of the spine with the hands or a device. The goal is to accommodate the bones in your spine that are not in their correct position, which is called a vertebral subluxation. The results can be pain relief, decreased inflammation, and restoration of function. Therefore it is a huge benefit to those living with chronic pain. It is deemed as offering a better quality of life.
Will I need to pay more?
In some cases you may need to pay more, this is due to doctors recommending other treatments that your policy doesn’t cover. If this happens, you should find out why this treatment has been recommended and if there are any other methods that are included in your policy. However, if not, then you will have to pay some or even all of the associated costs.
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A licensed insurance agent from our team will contact you to discuss your Medicare options.
