Payment and Insurance

For the most part, payment is expected at the time of service by means of cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, or Discover (I do NOT take AMEX due to a past dispute with them that I felt was handled very poorly on their part). I am also a member of Alamo Barter.

I generally do not accept insurance assignment nor other third-party reimbursement. This does not mean you can’t use your insurance at all though.

While I don’t file insurance claims, if you like, we will provide you with the documentation to submit your own claims and be reimbursed under the terms of your policy.

Please be aware though that I’m usually out of network, and your final out of pocket cost per visit (total cost of treatment is discussed below) will likely be higher than with an in-network provider due to deductibles and/or higher co-payment amounts.

So… why don’t I take insurance assignment?

It comes down to the way I practice and the way chiropractic services are coded for insurance. Chiropractic adjustments are billed using what’s known as “global” procedure codes.

Basically what that means is that if I perform an adjustment on a given area, EVERYTHING else I do with my hands to that area is considered part of the adjustment.

So if I do an adjustment that takes one or two minutes, the code is the same as when I do an adjustment with various soft tissue techniques that takes 20 to 30 minutes – and the reimbursement for that code is the same, regardless of the time it takes!

Yes, there are ways to get an insurance company to pay more for additional work on the same region, but it requires additional documentation and it will probably require going through an appeals process as well – for EVERY date of service!

In my view, it’s simply not worth the time, trouble, and expense to go through all of that.

When they experience the results of my approach, patients often ask why so few chiropractors provide adjustments and manual soft tissue release treatments on the same visit like I do.

The insurance issue is at least a large part of the reason why.

A chiropractor can bill for an adjustment and one or more unattended therapies like electrical muscle stimulation and usually get paid by insurance companies without the ongoing hassle of additional documentation and appeals of denied claims.

It really just isn’t feasible to practice like I do and accept insurance assignment. Believe me, I wish it was because I’d probably be able to make a lot more money!

Having to choose between insurance reimbursement and better results for my patients, I’ve chosen to practice the way I think is most clinically effective.

That said, your total out of pocket cost may not vary that much with me as compared to going with a chiropractor who takes your insurance, because people tend to not need as many visits using the approach that I use.

Besides things like not having to miss as much work and the cost of gas driving to and from frequent appointments, insurance copayments add up over time.

So although the cost per visit with me is usually higher, the total expense is often balanced out to a significant extent by having fewer visits than is typical with most insurance practices.

The exception to that is if you just have some minor issues to be addressed, in which case an insurance provider might be significantly less because your problem doesn’t require much treatment either way.

Another affordable option I feel I should mention for getting treatment for low complexity issues is The Joint chiropractic clinics.

They don’t take insurance either, but they do provide quick, “no-frills” chiropractic adjustments for a relatively low fee.

I have a few patients who have admitted to “cheating on me” with The Joint when they just need a quick fix for a minor complaint, but they come to me when they need more attention for a more significant problem, and I’m fine with that.

No practice model is right for everyone, and it may take a little experimentation to determine what fits your needs and finances the best.

While I of course would prefer you spend your money with me, I realize that I’m not always the best option for someone’s particular circumstances.

When I’m not, I’ll try to advise you on other options that will hopefully better meet both your health and budgetary needs.