Does Medicare cover chiropractors?

What chiropractic care does Medicare cover?

Medicare Part B only covers adjustments of the spine by a chiropractor to correct a subluxation, and only when your chiropractor uses their hands or a device called an activator. A subluxation is when the spinal joints fail to move properly, but the contact between the joints remains intact.

Medicare.gov describes chiropractic services as techniques, like adjustments to the spine or other parts of the body, to relieve body pain. Of those, only the spinal adjustment for a subluxation is covered.

What chiropractic services doesn't Medicare cover?

Medicare doesn't cover other services or tests a chiropractor orders, including:

• X-rays
• Massage therapy
• Acupuncture

What do I pay for a chiropractor with Medicare?

After you meet the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for a covered spinal adjustment. The Medicare-approved amount is the payment amount Original Medicare sets for a covered service; when your provider accepts assignment, Medicare pays its share and you pay your share of that amount.

For services Medicare doesn't cover, like massage therapy, you pay all costs. What you owe also depends on any other insurance you have, how much your provider charges, whether your provider accepts assignment and where you get the service.

Does Medicare cover acupuncture or massage for back pain?

Medicare Part B covers acupuncture, including dry needling, only for chronic low back pain, and Medicare doesn't cover massage therapy at all. For acupuncture coverage, the back pain must:

• Last 12 weeks or longer
• Have no known cause (for example, it isn't related to cancer that has spread, or to inflammation or an infectious disease)
• Not be associated with surgery or pregnancy

Who can give Medicare-covered acupuncture, and how often?

Medicare can't pay licensed acupuncturists directly. You must get acupuncture from a doctor or another health care provider, like a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, who has a master's or doctoral degree in acupuncture or Oriental Medicine from an accredited school and a current, full, active and unrestricted license to practice acupuncture in your state.

Medicare covers up to 12 acupuncture treatments in 90 days for chronic low back pain. If you show improvement, Medicare covers 8 more sessions, up to 20 treatments in a 12-month period; if you aren't improving, Medicare won't cover more treatments. See Medicare acupuncture coverage.

Does Medicare Advantage cover more chiropractic care?

Medicare Advantage plans must cover all medically necessary services that Original Medicare covers, and some offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover; rules and costs vary by plan, so check with the plan. See how Medicare Advantage differs from Original Medicare.

A Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policy helps pay your share of out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare, like coinsurance and deductibles, such as the 20% coinsurance for a covered spinal adjustment.