According to data from the CDC, over 11.4% of adults aged 45 to 64, 9.9% of adults aged 18 to 44, and 9.5% of those 65 and over saw a chiropractor in the past year.
Chiropractic care is emerging as one of the most widely used non-drug treatment options in the U.S. Still, one of the first questions I hear from new patients is: “Will my insurance cover this?”
Let’s clear that up. In this blog, you’ll find everything you need to know about how insurance works with chiropractic care, what’s covered, what’s not, and how to find out what your plan includes.
What Insurance Usually Covers (and What It Doesn’t)
Most healthcare plans that include chiropractic benefits will cover spinal adjustments when they’re considered medically necessary. This typically means there’s a documented musculoskeletal issue that’s affecting your daily activities.
Insurance may also cover a limited number of visits per calendar year, or continue coverage as long as there’s proof of improvement. In many cases, chiropractors must submit documentation after each visit or at set intervals to keep care covered.
However, not everything you receive at a chiropractic office will be included in your policy.
Most plans do not cover services like:
- Routine wellness or maintenance care without a documented medical need
- Initial exams, re-exams, or diagnostic imaging (like X-rays), unless ordered by an in-network provider
- Therapies outside of spinal manipulation, such as soft tissue therapy or shockwave therapy, unless specifically listed as a covered benefit
- Nutritional counseling or supplements
Insurance Types That Commonly Cover Chiropractic Care
Here’s what you should know about the most common insurance types that may cover your visits:
Private HMOs
Many private health insurance plans in Colorado include chiropractic benefits, particularly when care is deemed medically necessary. Coverage details, such as the number of visits allowed and co-payment amounts, differ among providers. Notable insurers offering chiropractic coverage in Colorado include Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Bright Health.
Medicare (Part B)
Medicare Part B does cover chiropractic care, but only for one specific service: manual spinal manipulation to correct a subluxation. This means there must be a documented spinal misalignment, and the treatment must be medically necessary. The adjustment must also be performed by a licensed chiropractor.
After you meet your annual deductible (which is $240 in 2025), Medicare will pay 80% of the approved amount. You’ll pay the remaining 20%—this is your coinsurance. But that 20% applies only to the adjustment itself.
Medicare does not cover:
- Exams or consultations
- X-rays (unless ordered by a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy)
- Massage therapy
- Routine maintenance care
If your deductible hasn’t been met yet, you’ll need to pay the full amount until it is.
VA and TriWest
If you’re a veteran, you may be eligible for chiropractic care through the VA health system or its community partner, TriWest. But here’s what many veterans don’t realize: you can’t just walk into a chiropractic clinic and expect it to be covered. There’s a process you need to follow:
- During your VA appointment, request a referral for chiropractic care.
- You may be scheduled in-house if your VA facility has a chiropractor on staff.
- If the VA doesn’t offer chiropractic services or there’s a wait, you can be referred to a community-based chiropractor like us through the VA Community Care Network (CCN), managed by TriWest in this region.
- Once your referral is submitted and approved, you’ll receive authorization.
You can’t begin treatment until the approval is active, so timing is important. The VA uses a Standardized Episode of Care (SEOC), which bundles common chiropractic services under one approval. This means you won’t need separate paperwork for every adjustment or visit.
Medicaid (Health First Colorado)
If you’re covered by Health First Colorado, which is Colorado’s Medicaid program, chiropractic care is only covered in very limited situations. For most adults, visits to a chiropractor aren’t included in standard Medicaid benefits unless you have a qualifying condition, like a spinal cord injury.
If you’re not sure whether your condition qualifies you’ll want to call the Health First Colorado Member Contact Center at 1-800-221-3943.
Auto Insurance (MedPay)
Colorado law mandates that auto insurance policies provide a minimum of $5,000 in Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage unless the policyholder opts out in writing. MedPay can cover medical expenses, including chiropractic care, regardless of who is at fault in an accident.
Colorado no longer mandates PIP; however, if your policy includes PIP, it can provide broader financial protection than MedPay alone.
Workers’ Compensation
In Colorado, chiropractic care may be covered under workers’ compensation if it’s included in the approved treatment plan for a work-related injury. To be eligible, the chiropractor must either be on your employer’s designated provider list or receive a referral from your authorized treating physician.
If your care extends beyond 12 visits, lasts more than 90 days, or involves more than three days of lost work, the chiropractor must also have Level I accreditation from the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts
If you have an HSA or FSA, you can typically use these funds to pay for chiropractic services, even if your primary insurance doesn’t cover them. These accounts allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for qualified medical expenses, providing a tax-advantaged way to manage out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
What’s Required and What Are the Conditions?
For chiropractic care to be reimbursed by insurance, several conditions must be met. While specifics can vary by plan, most policies require the following:
- A documented diagnosis and treatment plan—including visit frequency, goals, and duration.
- Progress notes showing functional improvement
- Claims must use approved ICD-10 diagnosis codes and CPT procedure codes. Inaccurate coding can lead to denied claims or reduced reimbursement.
- Many plans only cover care provided by chiropractors within their network. Out-of-network visits may result in higher out-of-pocket costs or no coverage at all.
- Referral or pre-authorization (if required). Some plans, especially HMOs or Medicare, do require a referral from a primary care physician or prior authorization before chiropractic care begins.
Final Thoughts
Whether your plan covers it or not, I’m a chiropractor accepting insurance fully, or partially we’re here to help you make sense of it.
If your insurance doesn’t include chiropractic benefits or if you’re between plans, we’ve got you covered. We offer a $97 New Patient Special that includes a full consultation, spinal evaluation, and a clear plan of action.If you’ve got questions about coverage, we’ll help you get straight answers. And if you’re ready to take the next step, call us at (720) 573-4910