Does Medicare Cover Chiropractic Care?
Here’s What You Need to Know
At Desert Valley Chiropractic, we often hear the question: “Does Medicare cover chiropractic care?” The answer is yes—but with limitations. If you’re a Medicare beneficiary seeking natural, drug-free relief from back pain, here’s a helpful breakdown of what’s covered, what’s not, and how we can help you navigate it.
What Medicare Does Cover?
Medicare Part B covers spinal manipulation by a chiropractor for the treatment of spinal complaints such as neck pain, headaches, middle back pain and low back pain. The adjustment must be considered medically necessary, which is to say there has been an acute flare up of pain, and the issue must be documented.
More simply put if you have a new pain or a flare up of an old condition then Medicare can cover your chiropractic care until the concern has become stable and reached a state of maximum improvement.
At our office, we use the Activator Method, a safe, effective, and gentle form of spinal adjustment that falls under Medicare’s definition of spinal manipulation.
What Medicare Doesn’t Cover:
Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover:
- Exams
- Consultations
- X-rays
- Therapies (like electrical stimulation, ultrasound, or shockwave)
- Maintenance or wellness care
This can be confusing for patients because they expect chiropractic coverage to work like a typical medical visit. But Medicare’s chiropractic benefits are limited only to the adjustment itself—and only when there’s an active problem to treat.
What if I Have a Flare-Up Later in the Year?
A common question we get is: “Does Medicare only cover chiropractic care once a year?” The good news is—no, it doesn’t work that way.
If you experience another flare-up—say, from gardening, lifting something heavy, or even just playing with the grandkids—Medicare can cover another round of care as long as it’s medically necessary. As long as you’re actively being treated for a specific problem (like back pain or spinal misalignment), Medicare may approve care until your condition stabilizes again.
So if the pain comes back, don’t wait—give us a call. We’ll help you get back on track and verify what your Medicare benefits will cover.
What if I Want to Keep Up with Monthly Checkups?
Many patients, especially those who’ve experienced severe pain ask about coming in for monthly checkups to help prevent future flare-ups. We love that proactive mindset!
Ongoing maintenance or wellness chiropractic care can be a great way to stay aligned, reduce inflammation, and keep your body moving and feeling its best. However, it’s important to know that Medicare does not cover wellness or maintenance care—they only cover visits when there is an acute or active issue.
That said, many of our patients choose to continue monthly visits because they feel the difference it makes. These visits are self-pay, and we’re always happy to discuss affordable options in the office if you’d like to stay on track with your care.
Supplemental Insurance (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage Plans
If you have a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, it may cover your co-insurance or deductible for covered adjustments. If you’re on a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, coverage can vary widely. Some plans cover more services, and some require pre-authorization—so always check with your provider.
