Chiropractic care is covered under most health insurance plans. Some plans may have visit limits, dollar limits or referral requirements.
Most Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota health plans cover chiropractic care when it is part of an active treatment plan. An active treatment plan means you are receiving care to treat a specific injury or body pain, and your chiropractic treatment is improving the symptoms. Find a chiropractor in your Blue Cross or Blue Plus health plan network by searching for "chiropractor."*
What is chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care is an adjustment to the back, neck or spine. It's used to ease pain, correct alignment issues, treat injuries and support the body’s natural ability to heal itself. It is most commonly used to treat neck and back pain. Chiropractic services may also be used to treat joint pain, frequent muscle spasms and chronic muscle pain.
During an evaluation, chiropractors might also discuss general health issues like diet, nutrition, exercise, healthy habits and lifestyle changes. Patients often have better results from an adjustment when they live a healthy life.
Education and training for chiropractors
Someone studying chiropractic care will first get a pre-medical undergraduate degree. They will study the muscles, ligaments and joints of the spine. Then, they will move on to an accredited chiropractic college. They will study topics like human anatomy, orthopedics and nutrition during a five-year program.
A minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience is required. The courses must be approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Finally, he or she must pass an exam and get a chiropractic license in the state where they want to practice. Chiropractors complete yearly education to keep their license up to date and continue their practice.
What can I expect during my first chiropractic visit?
Your chiropractor will need to know your symptoms and medical history. Next, he or she will evaluate you and discuss your symptoms. They might order new or review existing X-rays and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results you have from your doctor.
If it's determined that you would benefit from an adjustment, the chiropractor will give you one during your first visit. You will lie down on a specially designed table for the adjustment to your spine, neck or joints. You may hear a “popping” sound during the adjustment. This is the release of gas bubbles between your joints. A similar noise is made when you “crack” your knuckles.
Chiropractic treatment is hands-on and needs to be done in the chiropractor’s office. Some patients feel pain relief right away. However, many patients need several adjustments to feel better.
What can I expect after an adjustment?
It is common to be achy, stiff or tired for the first few days after an adjustment. During this time, the body is adapting to the new alignment. You should not feel pain from an adjustment.
Your chiropractor may also recommend treatments to complement your adjustments, like:
- Heating or icing the affected area
- Massage
- Stretching
- Electrical stimulation
- Exercise
- Weight loss
Other forms of treatment besides the adjustments may not be covered under all health plans. It's important to check your health plan coverage before beginning new treatments.
You can check your plan benefits by calling customer service at the number on the back of your ID card. If another form of treatment is not covered, you should discuss other options with your chiropractor or doctor.
This is general information about how plan benefits work.
This is general information about how plan benefits work. Review the Summary of Benefits and Coverage and your specific health plan benefit booklet for information about how your plan works.
It’s up to you to always check if your provider is in your health plan network before you receive services. Not all providers are in every network. You may pay more or for all of your healthcare costs if your provider is out of your network or does not have a contract with Blue Cross (this is called a non-participating provider). You can verify if your provider is in your network by calling customer service at the number on the back of your member ID card.