Does Medicare Cover Chiropractic Care?
In order to get the medical care that you need and deserve, this often means turning to a chiropractor. A great chiropractor will be able to deliver outstanding results for people with physical problems. However, booking an appointment can sometimes be worrisome for people with regards to cost. The Medicare program can be a great way to get the treatment you need without spending a fortune. But, does Medicare cover chiropractic care? The answer is often yes, as long as you meet specific requirements. Let’s take a closer look at this issue to see if you qualify.
What Does Medicare Cover?
Let’s start by looking at the circumstances in which Medicare could cover you. First, you’ll need to have an active medical condition. Secondly, it will need to be medically necessary for the chiropractor to manipulate the spine. There is a range of conditions that can be treated and covered by Medicare. For example, you may be able to get treatments covered for headaches, herniated disks, back pain, and sciatica. Before you are covered for these treatments, the chiropractors will need to examine you. This exam will allow them to determine if a misalignment in your spine is causing the problem. If it is, they will certify that it is medically necessary for you to receive chiropractic care. Then, you will be covered under Medicare Part B.
Once you pay your yearly deductible, you can claim 80 percent of the healthcare costs on Medicare. You might also want to claim the Medicare supplement plan. This cost is additional to Medicare. This plan will take care of the remaining 20 percent, so you won’t need to pay for your chiropractic treatments.
In some cases, you might be on the Medicare Advantage plan. This plan will allow you to get a full repayment as long as you’re using a healthcare provider in the network. However, if you’re using this, you won’t be able to get a supplement plan. It’s best to consider both of these options and decide which one will be best for you.
What Doesn’t Medicare Cover?
Medicare can be a beneficial way of paying for your chiropractic treatments, but it won’t cover everything. There are a few expenses that you’ll need to pay yourself. First, Medicare won’t cover preventative chiropractic treatments. Unless you have an active issue, you will need to pay for it yourself.
Another thing that you should be aware of is that Medicare doesn’t extend to diagnostic services. For example, your chiropractor will often need to take an X-ray of your back. This X-ray allows them to identify where the issues are and how you’ll be able to fix them. You’ll often need to pay for these scans yourself. However, there is a bill before Congress that could expand the scope of chiropractic treatment.
Contact Us at Mission Hills Chiropractic!
One of the most common questions we get is, does Medicare cover chiropractic services? In most cases, the answer will be yes. As long as it is an active condition and medically necessary for chiropractic treatment, you will be covered by Medicare. So, give our team a call today to find out how we can help. We are happy to check your insurance for you and let you know of any potential costs before your first visit!
Dr. Craig Stutzman is a great chiropractor, practicing each day in Lake Forest, California at Mission Hills Chiropractic. He’s also an expert surfer, surfing each week on the beaches of Orange County, CA.
Dr. Stutzman, along with Dr. J and Dr. Gooing at Mission Hills, have a mission. That mission is to help people get and stay out of pain through chiropractic adjustments and health habit tips.
Some people say these are the best chiropractors in Lake Forest or even the best chiropractors in Orange County. We can’t help but agree with those people.
Are you looking for the best chiropractors in Lake Forest? You found them in Dr. Stutzman and Mission Hills Chiropractic, your local Lake Forest chiropractors.