When it comes to learning about your coverage options with Medicare, it’s important that you have highly knowledgeable insurance experts at your side. With Malhotra & Assoc. Insurance, we will make sure you have a complete understanding of the coverage you can receive.
In an emergency, when it is determined that chiropractic treatment is medically necessary to fix a spinal subluxation, Medicare Part B will cover your chiropractic care.
There are a lot of services that Medicare does not cover. Generally, if an allopathic or osteopathic physician does not provide the care, you can suspect that Medicare will not cover it. For services not covered by Medicare, you are on your own and will need to cover the full cost of the service, test, or treatment by yourself.
Medically Necessary
Medicare Part B covers medically necessary and preventive care services. Medicare Part B will cover manual manipulation of the spine provided by a chiropractor or another qualified provider if this is medically necessary to correct a subluxation. A subluxation is when one or more bones of the spine move out of position.
Since this is covered under Medicare Part B, the Part B costs apply. You will be responsible for the Part B deductible along with a copayment of 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the covered service.
Medicare Part A will not cover chiropractic care. Chiropractic services are not emergency procedures and are performed not in a hospital but in an office, so your hospital insurance will not help to cover the costs.
Chiropractor-Ordered Tests and Services
Medicare will not cover x-rays, massage therapy, acupuncture, or other tests or services ordered or provided by a chiropractor. Medicare will only cover an x-ray that demonstrates that a spinal subluxation requires treatment if a physician, not a chiropractor, ordered the x-ray. Therefore, if you need to get an x-ray for a suspected spinal subluxation, you should see your primary care physician first so they can order the test, and you can provide Medicare with proof that chiropractic treatment is medically necessary.
Check with Medicare before you agree to a course of treatment to make sure you know whether or not your services will be covered.
Medicare Advantage Coverage
You may be able to receive coverage for your chiropractic care if it is covered by your Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare Advantage plans often offer benefits not covered by Original Medicare, such as dental, vision, or hearing coverage, as a way to entice people to sign up.
Coverage for chiropractic care under a Medicare Advantage plan may look like a typical supplemental insurance plan. For a monthly premium and a yearly deductible, you can benefit from lowered copayments for your chiropractic treatment instead of the full costs. Your plan would have set costs for specific treatments and would cover standard chiropractic services and equipment. Each plan will offer different coverage for chiropractic treatments.
To learn more about what Medicare does and does not cover, contact Malhotra and Assoc. Insurance. Our team can build you a health insurance package with everything you need.
