Does Medicare Cover Chiropractic Care?

Chronic back pain, neck pain, and joint pain can limit your mobility and make daily activities challenging. If you're experiencing these issues, you're not alone. Studies show that 90% of adults in the US experience back pain. Even after diagnostic tests, the cause for pain is often unclear.

Many Medicare beneficiaries find relief through chiropractic care, which can help restore mobility and reduce pain. In this guide, we'll explain how Medicare covers chiropractic care and what other treatment options are available for managing back pain.

Key takeaways:

• Original Medicare only covers manual manipulation of the spine (a kind of chiropractic service) to treat spinal subluxation. It won’t cover other services, like X-rays, massage therapy, or acupuncture that a chiropractor orders. However, if ordered by a physician for another condition, they may be covered.

• Some Medicare Advantage plans cover chiropractic care but the cost of the visit will depend on your insurance carrier and policy details. 

• If you have chronic lower back pain, Medicare covers physical therapy and acupuncture visits.

What is chiropractic care?

Chiropractic care complements traditional medicine by correcting spinal alignment and improving your mobility for daily activities. Chiropractors focus on reducing reliance on pain medications and, when possible, helping patients avoid surgery. Known as spinal manipulation, this approach has become a common treatment choice for many Americans.

Back pain, especially in the lower back, brings most people to their first chiropractic visit. Other common reasons include:

• Neck pain

• Muscle pain

• Frequent headaches

Chiropractors treat musculoskeletal pain throughout the body—from the head and jaw to shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, pelvis, knees, and ankles. People with specific conditions like scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal osteoarthritis also seek treatment from chiropractors to improve mobility and reduce pain. 

While spinal adjustments (sometimes called "back cracking") are the most well-known chiropractic service, a chiropractor can help reduce pain by performing a number of services, including hands-on spinal manipulation and soft tissue therapy.

Below is a full summary of chiropractic services:

• Chiropractic adjustments: Chiropractors use hands-on techniques to manipulate the spine and other joints to restore proper alignment and function. This can alleviate pain and improve your range of motion.

• Soft tissue therapy: Chiropractors may use techniques such as massage, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy to reduce muscle tension and improve circulation.

• Recommended exercises for rehabilitation: Chiropractors may recommend specific mobility exercises and stretches to help strengthen weak muscles and improve flexibility, as well as to aid in injury recovery.

• Nutritional counseling: Chiropractors may offer advice on dietary changes and nutritional supplements to support overall health and wellness.

• Suggestions for lifestyle modification: Chiropractors may offer guidance on lifestyle changes to reduce pain, improve posture, and prevent future injuries, such as ergonomics, stress management, and sleep hygiene.

• Diagnostic imaging: Chiropractors may order diagnostic tests such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans to help diagnose and plan the treatment for certain conditions.

How does Original Medicare cover chiropractic services?

Original Medicare only covers chiropractic visits under specific circumstances. Medicare Part B will cover spinal manipulation when it’s deemed necessary by your healthcare provider to treat vertebral subluxation (minor displacement of vertebral bones). Acupuncture is also sometimes covered when it’s used to treat chronic low back pain.

Other services your chiropractor provides, like diagnostic x-rays and massage therapy, are not covered by Original Medicare.

That said, there are options for Medicare coverage if you have chronic lower back pain. Medicare covers acupuncture and physical therapy if your doctor recommends them.

Before beginning any treatments, always check with your chiropractor to confirm coverage to avoid any unnecessary out-of-pocket costs. 

How many chiropractic visits does Medicare cover in a year?

If you meet the conditions for manual spinal manipulation, Medicare covers as many visits with a chiropractor as you need to correct vertebral subluxation. For each chiropractic visit, you’ll pay 20% of the cost of treatment after meeting the Part B deductible.

If you have a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, it will cover all or some of the 20% Part B coinsurance cost.

How Chapter can help

Chapter provides full-service Medicare guidance through personalized advice and advocacy. We’ll start by helping you explore the benefits of your current Medicare coverage. If you’re not receiving the best value from your plan (or just want to see what other options are out there), we’ll walk you through the different opportunities to change your plan and guide you through the process of changing your plan during the next qualifying enrollment period. 

Speak with a licensed Medicare Advisor today at 855-900-2427 or schedule a time to talk.

Medicare chiropractic coverage frequently asked questions