Often times, in the weeks following an injury or when pain becomes too much to deal with, patients will seek the support of a chiropractor, or acupuncture specialist. Both acupuncture, and chiropractic care, were created to treat moderate to high level pain and discomfort.

However, one concern that always comes to mind is out-of-pocket expenses, which can definitely add up. So naturally, this has Medicare beneficiaries wondering just how much of these treatment costs are covered by their Medicare plan, if covered at all.

Chiropractic Care vs. Acupuncture

Like stated above, both of these methods of treatment were created to relieve pain or discomfort. Before looking into the cost difference between the two, you may consider what each form of treatment entails. It is best to look further into both before deciding on the best option for you.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care is a very hands-on process. For chiropractic treatments, the physician uses his or her hands to adjust the patients muscles and joints. This is done to generate better movement to tight muscles and gain better usage of affected joints.

Neck pain, back pain, headaches, or anything that may cause a disruption in the nervous system, are usually a common reason patients seek chiropractic care. Patients who receive this form of treatment typically feel results immediately after leaving the appointment.

However, chiropractic care does come with a few possible risks. Amongst them, are risks of having a stroke or unintentionally adding pressure to the injury. The risk is low with certified practitioners, but with constant shifting of muscles and joints, you could possibly end up being be more susceptible to injury.

Acupuncture

Unlike chiropractic care, acupuncture is not as much of a hands-on method for reducing pain. Acupuncture is done by inserting needles into the surface of the skin. This is a practice that will stimulate certain parts of the body to alleviate pain, and can also help to treat several other medical health conditions.

In fact, several acupuncture patients have reported that this treatment has helped cure their depression, anxiety, and several other mental and physical issues. Again, like chiropractic care, acupuncture does come with some low risks. Acupuncture risks can include bleeding or bruising from the needles, infection, and in some cases can stimulate labor for pregnant women.

If you are considering acupuncture treatment, just be sure you choose a licensed practitioner.
It is important to note that, while both are proven effective and useful options, there are differences in what Medicare plans will cover.

Does Medicare Cover Chiropractic Care

Yes, Medicare covers chiropractic services, if they are medically necessary. Luckily, Medicare currently has no cap on how many times you can see a physician for necessary chiropractic appointments.

If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, 80% of the cost for chiropractic care will be covered by Medicare. If you have the Original Medicare, and don’t have any other additional insurance, you are responsible for paying your Part B deductible, and a 20% coinsurance for your appointments.

You may also be required to pay for any additional tests that are ordered by your chiropractic physician. This can include, x-rays, any extra physical or massage therapy, and even, coincidentally, acupuncture. The specific amount of money owed will depend on several factors, including:

• Any other insurance you have.
• The facility that you seek care from.
• How much your individual doctor charges.
• Where you get your tests and services.

Do not go into this treatment with no knowledge of the average estimate of payment. Talk to your doctor, and get all of your questions answered before committing to a certain recommendation they’ve made.

Is Acupuncture Covered by Medicare

Unfortunately, no. At this time, acupuncture specifically is not covered by your Original Medicare plan. Medicare typically does not cover services that are not considered medically necessary. Medicare will cover other types of therapy, like physical, occupational, or speech therapy. However, acupuncture is not part of those types of therapy yet.

If you should decide to seek the help of a professional acupuncturist, it is important to be quoted on prices for the entire process. Patients typically get the initial first visit cost, and tend to forget any additional costs for follow up appointments or extra care.

Find out how many appointments you’ll need to attend. If there are any additional costs, and how often you’ll need to attend follow-up visits.

Acupuncture and Chiropractic Coverage with Medigap

What is Medigap? Medigap provides you with any additional coverage you may need when paying for your medical needs under Medicare. So are acupuncture and chiropractic care part of the additional coverage?

At this time, Medigap plans do not cover any costs that deal with acupuncture.
While acupuncture is not covered by Medigap, chiropractic care is covered by Medigap. In fact, Medigap Plan C and Plan F cover 100% of your Part B deductible, on top of your 20% coinsurance.

If you combine your Medicare and Medigap plans, any medically necessary chiropractic work will be completely covered, at no cost to you.

Does Medicare Advantage Cover Chiropractic and Acupuncture?

When it comes to Medicare Advantage plans, we hit a bit of a grey area with coverage for chiropractic care or acupuncture treatment. Each Medicare Advantage plan is different from the next. So one plan may offer high fees and less benefits, while another offers low fees and more benefits.

At this point, it may be tough finding a Medicare Advantage provider that covers acupuncture. It may be worth looking into though, if it is something you truly feel is a priority for your health.
The same answer goes for chiropractic services. Although it is usually much easier to come across, the prices and plans will vary.

Telemedicine is becoming more and more popular.  Here is a great article by MedicareFAQ that has some really good information.

Leaving your home when traveling to and from your medical visits can sometimes seem like an intimidating task. Especially if it’s difficult for you to travel.

With Telemedicine, also known as Telehealth, seniors will have the option to stay in the comfort of their own home to receive medical attention. Thus, avoiding the stress and trouble of attending appointments, routine check-ups, hospital stays, or any other aspect of medical health care.

What is Telemedicine

Telemedicine is essentially a way for patients to meet with doctors virtually, to be diagnosed and treated in remote locations. While this is a new service, Telemedicine is projected to lower some cost aspects of health treatments. As well as improve the way health is being monitored for seniors.

At this point in time, telemedicine is a well recognized service. It’s increasingly becoming the more chosen option when looking into health care services.

Benefits of Telemedicine

Aside from staying remote, when moving from place to place can be too physically demanding, telemedicine comes with five major benefits.

1. Telemedicine technology provides you with the opportunity to seek health care at your convenience from any device that has a camera and microphone. Wherever you are, health care is available to you in the palm of your hands.
2. Sitting in an office, anticipating your appointment, can be inconvenient and add stress to an already stressful situation. With telemedicine, you eliminate the waiting room process before your appointment. Not sitting in a waiting room also means there is less of a possibility to receive or spread sickness.
3. Often times a patient may feel disconnected with their health care provider when attending in-person physician visits. Telemedicine provides you the opportunity to build a better relationship with your physician. Without meeting in person, communication about health care will be key, therefore strengthening the relationship between a doctor and patient.
4. With telemedicine, you are presented a better opportunity to connect with more physicians and better doctors. For example, you may be sick, and needing a physician in a particular field, that could be located cities, or even states away. Traveling may be difficult for you, but you will have access to communicate with those people from a remote location.
5. If the doctor is happy, the patient is happy! While the benefits for patients in telemedicine seem almost endless, it also benefits the physicians! When the doctor chooses to go the telemedicine route, they will have more time for necessary medical activities. If they have the ability to take care of their patients in a more efficient way, then they have more time to assist others in need and possibly even gain more knowledge in their own field!

Health Care Providers with Medicare in Telemedicine

Medicare typically limits the health care providers you can seek telemedicine services with. With Medicare, health providers that are eligible for telemedicine are:

• Nurse Midwives
• Dieticians/Nutrition Specialists
• Physicians
• Nurses
• Psychologists/Social Workers

Telemedicine and Medicare Coverage

Anyone who is a beneficiary of Medicare Part B qualifies for most telemedicine services. Just like in-person doctor visits and consultations with Medicare, you are responsible to pay for your portion of the cost for telemedicine services.

If you are enrolled Medicare Part B, you’ll typically pay 20% of the approved Medicare amount for telemedicine services, after meeting your Part B annual deductible.

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, provided by a private insurance company who is contracted with Medicare, the cost for telemedicine health care would be the same as the cost for in-person health visits.

Telemedicine services covered by Medicare include, but are not limited to:

• Physician consultations
• Health check-ups
• Mental health counseling

Please note, it is important to contact your telemedicine physician first. This is to see if they participate in Medicare to ensure your coverage applies with their offered services.

If they do not currently take part in telemedicine technology, and it is something you are interested in participating in, we suggest looking for an office in your area that can accomodate your needs.

How will Telemedicine impact Medicare Beneficiaries

Telemedicine will provide a more comfortable and convenient medical health care experience. It’ll also save the patient travel expenses for routine check-ups and other charges that come from visiting a doctor in person.

While those are very noteworthy and valuable benefits, telemedicine technology is still new. It will continue to positively impact Medicare beneficiaries in the future.

In 2015, Medicare extended their beneficiary coverage to several new telehealth services, and they continue to research and grow.

The demand for telemedicine through Medicare is continuously increasing. While the telemedicine industry is still working out a number of challenges and sometimes even legal issues, it is a rapidly growing service.

In the upcoming years, as telemedicine becomes more popular with Medicare, Medicare beneficiaries can expect telehealth practices to reduce medical costs, improve the process of medical monitoring, and create a higher-quality health care administration for seniors.

Whether your new to Medicare, or are currently enrolled, give us a call to make sure you’re taking advantage of all the benefits you deserve. Get help with the out of pocket costs left up to the beneficiary to pay.