Pain, Chiropractic, and Bills: Finding the Right Balance

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Healthcare costs are continuously on the rise. And even the best managed health insurance system can have its drawbacks. This is perhaps one of the reasons why there is such a great number of health insurance plans to cover a variety of ailments and health conditions along with their associated diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation programs.

Chiropractic and Pain

It is now a well-established fact that chiropractic can be an invaluable treatment for problems associated with the spine. Diseases or health conditions which are responsive to purposeful spinal manipulation can sow great benefits from chiropractic procedures. In most cases, chiropractic is effective in managing back pain to restore optimal range of mobility in the region. By alleviating the pain that can sometimes take on a chronic form, chiropractic allows individuals to get on with their lives relatively free from pain and discomfort as far as their backs are concerned.

Chiropractic and Healthcare Costs

Studies have shown that patients with back problems and who opted for alternative methods of healthcare to the traditional medical treatments posted nearly 800 USD less on their yearly health-related expenditures. Although there are many alternative treatments in the healthcare industry, there are only several that can account for the management of back pain or spinal problems.

Chiropractic care is believed to allow for greater savings in healthcare expenses because chiropractic treatments are generally less expensive than medical treatment options. However, because many still rely on modern medical diagnostic procedures, the use of these technologies can sometimes hike the chiropractic cost.

Nonetheless, compared to conventional medical treatments, chiropractic can help curb unnecessary expenditures related to risky medical treatments, inappropriate exams, surgeries that are uncalled for, and very expensive drugs.

Chiropractic and Health Insurance

One of the major issues faced by chiropractic patients is whether their medical insurance covers such alternative treatments as chiropractic. Although it is clear that in the long run chiropractic healthcare can significantly reduce overall healthcare costs, patients will still have to think about shouldering the treatment they are currently receiving.

Unfortunately, because alternative medicine is not generally viewed by medical practitioners as medical treatment, some health insurance providers do not cover them. And while Medicare Part B can cover basic chiropractic care to include only manipulation of the muscles and bones in the back, it does not cover associated costs such as diagnostics, physical examinations, the use of orthopedic devices, and so on and so forth.

The best thing to do is to find out from your own healthcare insurance the specific provisions of your coverage. It is best to be fully aware of what can and cannot be covered to save you from the hassles of filing for a claim later on. If you already have a chiropractor, it is also advisable to seek their help in finding the best possible solution for you.

Since most medical insurance companies give credence to doctor-prescribed treatments, it may also be wise to talk to your doctor to recommend to you the best chiropractor he knows, that is, if he believes in chiropractic care. It may be a long shot but it can surely help in your medical insurance bills.

Injuries to the back can happen anytime. Although there are plenty of medical treatments available, complementary and alternative medicine, specifically chiropractic, can offer a more cost-effective way to manage such conditions. It is a must, however, to make sure that your health insurance adequately covers this.

Credits

Health Care Explorer – Medical Billing & Coding
Oshkosh Chicopractor – Chiropractor
Wikipedia – Medical Billing

 

James Jacobs