Chiropratic cover generally falls under mid-tier extras cover
Chiropractic treatment is not covered under the Medicare Benefits Scheme
Get up to 60% back on your chiropractic treatment (depending on your policy and provider)
2 month waiting periods and annual limits apply
Sick of Suffering from Chronic or Recurring Pain? With Health Insurance for Chiropractic Treatment, Waving Goodbye to Your Issues Could Get a Whole Lot Easier.
If you’re suffering from chronic or persistent pain, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that 3.6 million Australians are dealing with chronic pain on a daily basis. The national financial burden of pain was estimated to be $73.2 billion in 2018, and will increase to $215.6 billion by 2050.But it's not just the financial costs for the Australian healthcare system that we need to consider. Dealing with chronic pain can be incredibly challenging, affecting various aspects of your life such as daily activities, relationships, and even your career. It's no surprise that individuals living with chronic pain often face higher rates of depression and mood disorders.
The good news is that there are positive steps you can take to manage chronic pain and improve your overall well-being. One holistic approach with a proven track record in treating and alleviating severe pain is chiropractic care.
By taking out the best health insurance coverage for chiropractic treatment, you not only have the potential to find a solution for your chronic pain but also save on costly therapies. To help you better understand health insurance for chiropractic treatment, we’ve written this comprehensive guide to explain how health insurance for chiropractic treatment works.
If you’re ready to dive right in, you can use our user-friendly online comparison tool to quickly compare a range of suitable policies and their options in just a few minutes.
WHAT CAN A CHIROPRACTOR TREAT?
Chiropractic treatment is primarily used for the pain relief of muscles, joints, bones and connective tissue like cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. It’s often the only therapy required or it’s used in conjunction with conventional medical treatment. According to the Better Health Channel, a chiropractor can treat the following:
Back injuries
Chronic pain
Headaches and migraines
Joint issues such as knees, shoulders and extremities
Period pain and menstrual cramping
Postural issues
Sciatica
Why Take Out Health Insurance for Chiropractic Treatment?
Why should you consider having health insurance that covers chiropractic treatment? Chiropractic therapy has gained a strong reputation for effectively addressing issues such as back pain, neck pain, and postural problems.It's important to remember that your spine houses your central nervous system, and when your spine is misaligned or impaired, it not only leads to chronic pain but also affects the communication along your spine. A skilled chiropractor can manipulate your joints and bones to restore their normal function and reduce pain throughout your body. After just one session, you're likely to walk out feeling more aligned, and acute pain should diminish. However, it's important to note that chiropractic treatment is not covered under the Medicare Benefits Scheme.
This means that seeking out this treatment can become expensive, and without coverage, you may be left waiting on a long public waiting list. Considering private health insurance for chiropractic treatment can be a wise choice to alleviate, recover from, or even prevent symptoms like back pain, restricted mobility, and discomfort. Similar to
To determine the right level of coverage for you and potential refunds, you should speak directly to a range of insurance companies to find the right fit for you. Some insurers may require you to have an initial consultation or referral from a healthcare provider before covering chiropractic visits. It’s worth taking the time to compare health insurance cover to find the best policy to suit your needs. A good health insurance policy that includes chiro can help you get back to 100% health as quickly as possible.
Why get chiro health cover?
Living a pain-free life is often taken for granted. But for many Australians the chances of experiencing chronic pain or mobility issues at some point is high. Chronic pain can affect:
Children, adolescents and adults
Older people
Those with a disability
People living in rural areas
People in the workforce
Multicultural communities
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
Veterans
Athletes
After just one session, you’re likely to walk out feeling more aligned and acute pain should subside. However, chiropractic treatment is not covered under the Medicare Benefits Scheme. This means seeking out this treatment can become expensive and without cover you may be forced to wait it out on a long public waiting list.
It may be wise to consider private insurance to relieve, recover from, or prevent symptoms like back pain, restricted mobility, and discomfort occurring. Like dental and optical services, chiropractic treatment is offered under different types of extras cover. It’s worth taking the time to compare health insurance cover to find the best policy to suit your needs. A good health insurance policy that includes chiro can help you get back to 100% health as quickly as possible.
What’s covered by chiropractic health insurance?
Depending on your policy and health fund, the types of services covered by chiropractic health insurance include:
Massage
Adjustment to restore motion of the joint
Re-alignment
Chiropractic X-rays
Exercise programs
Education
Are There Limits on Health Insurance for Chiropractic Treatment?
All extras health insurance has limits applied on the amount you can claim for particular treatments covered. This is known as annual limits and will depend on your chosen health fund and the level of extras cover you take out. As a general rule of thumb, a higher level of cover will give you higher annual limits.
Limits on your extras cover are generally broken down into two categories:
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1. Combined Limits
If your extras policy specifies combined limits, this means several services fall under the one limit. For example, chiropractic may be combined with physiotherapy and osteopathy. Exceed your limit on one of the treatments and you won’t have any benefits remaining for the other combined services.
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2. Sub-limits
Extras cover with sub-limits means specific treatments under the one category will have individual benefits.
Other limits to consider
Depending on your policy, the extras cover may have other limits you should consider when comparing funds. These include the following:
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1. Time limits
If time limits are applied to your extras cover, you must lodge your claim within two years of the date you received treatment.
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2. Service limits
There also may be a service limit applied to your chiro extras cover. This means there will be a limit on the number of times you can claim for the same service. For example, each person on the policy may only be entitled to one initial consultation and one chiropractic x-ray per calendar year each.
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3. Benefit limits
It’s common for health funds to apply a limit on the benefits you can claim per day. For example, if you receive multiple services within the one consultation, you may only be able to claim on one service.
How Long Do I Have to Wait to Claim?
Unlike private hospital insurance, theBut don’t let the waiting period stop you from switching to a better policy or a new provider. Health funds will honour the waiting periods you’ve already served if you decide to switch to the same level of cover with a new health fund.
It’s not uncommon for health funds to offer no waiting periods on some services to encourage new members to join. As always, check the special conditions as it relates to chiropractic services and which providers you’re able to receive a benefit from.
Chiropractic Cover Conditions
Depending on the health fund provider and the individual policy, there may be some other conditions before you sign on the dotted line.Some funds stipulate in order to be covered for chiropractic services, your treatment must be deemed medically necessary. This means you simply can’t go get a chiro treatment because you want to give yourself a treat!
Other insurers may also require you to receive your treatment from a chiropractor approved by the fund. This helps to ensure you’re being treated by a well-regarded professional.
Enjoy All the Benefits of Extras Cover
While living pain free and restoring mobility may be at the top of your priority list, there are other benefits you can enjoy with extras cover. The benefits will mostly depend on the level of cover and differ from fund to fund.Some of the benefits you may enjoy beyond chiropractic treatment include:
- Dental treatment including dental check-ups, major dental and orthodontic treatment
- Optical
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Occupational and speech therapy
- Medical aids such as glucose monitor and hearing aids
- Prosthesis
- Pharmaceuticals not covered by the PBS
- Psychology
- Alternative and natural therapies such as acupuncture, naturopathy and remedial massage
Ready to Take a Closer Look at Health Insurance for Chiropractic Treatment?
If you're looking to maximise the benefits of extras cover, taking the time to compare different funds is the smart way to go. With the right extras cover, you can access valuable treatments and services that can greatly improve your current health and even help prevent future conditions.When it comes to chiropractic treatment, experiencing its effectiveness can leave you feeling revitalised, free from pain, and ready to embrace a better quality of life. Not to mention the significant savings you can enjoy, which can be put towards fulfilling experiences, personal interests, or simply enhancing your overall well-being. It's an opportunity you wouldn't want to miss.
To ensure you make the most of your chiropractic cover, it's important to select an extras policy that perfectly aligns with your current healthcare needs while also considering potential future needs. The good news is that the process doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming.
Our comparison tool makes it effortless to explore and compare various extras cover options offered by different Australian health funds. Finding the ideal private health insurance policy tailored to your unique healthcare requirements has never been more convenient, taking just a few minutes of your time.
Take charge of your health and make the most of your extras cover today. With our user-friendly comparison tool, you can confidently navigate the options and secure the coverage that provides the best value for your health and lifestyle.
If you have any questions or queries with your chiropractic cover, we have friendly staff who are all health insurance experts. You can call one of our team on 1300 806 119
Chiropractor Health Insurance FAQs
1. Can I claim chiropractic services using my private health insurance?Yes, you can typically claim chiropractic services through your private health insurance extras cover. By providing your health fund membership details and using HICAPS, you can conveniently claim your rebate on the spot, reducing your out-of-pocket expenses.
2. Will my private health insurance cover the cost of X-rays for chiropractic treatment?
The coverage for X-rays may vary depending on your specific private health insurance policy. Some policies may provide a rebate for X-rays associated with chiropractic treatment, while others may require a separate allied health extras cover. It's best to review your policy or contact your health fund directly to understand the level of coverage for X-rays.
3. What health problems can a chiro help with?
Chiropractic care treats a range of chronic conditions like back pain, neck pain, headaches, migraines, sciatica, and joint pain through manual adjustments, therapies, and mobilisation techniques. It offers a holistic approach to alleviate pain, improve spinal and joint function, and enhance overall well-being.
