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Chiropractors help a lot of people, but if you don’t have insurance, it can be expensive to go to a licensed chiropractor. So, how much does it cost to go to the chiropractor if you don’t have insurance?
Without Insurance, a chiropractor costs between $60 and $200 depending on the amount of experience the chiropractor has and the location of the clinic they work at. Some free clinics have chiropractors on-site periodically, but oftentimes, they are extremely busy and their hours are limited.
When you are able to attend an appointment with a chiropractor but don’t have medical insurance, you will need to be prepared to pay completely out of pocket. This can be a bit overwhelming for some individuals, so be sure to know how much the treatment will cost before attending the appointment. Keep reading to learn more about how much it will cost to go to the chiropractor if you don’t have health insurance.
How Much Does Chiropractic Care Cost Without Insurance?
Anyone can benefit from chiropractic care. Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, an office worker, or an athlete, chiropractic care is often necessary. Since receiving these adjustments is important, patients without insurance have to consider the costs associated with chiropractic care.
Without insurance, you can expect the cost of a chiropractic appointment to be anywhere between $60 and $200. The more experience a chiropractor has, the higher their rates will be.
The Elite Spine and Health Center explains that “the average chiropractic cost for a full-body adjustment is $65. Individual sessions can range from $34 to $106”.
Depending on the type of chiropractic care you need greatly impacts how much each appointment will cost.
Sessions can range from $34 to $106 depending on your location, the number of chiropractic services available in your area, and if extensive exams are required during your visit.
What is included in these costs?
Most chiropractic sessions include an adjustment of your vertebrae. Chiropractors apply force to your back using their hands and arms to realign joints to their proper state and relieve any pain or pressure.
The length of the chiropractic session depends on the severity of the misalignment.
Additional Costs
Some chiropractors offer additional services such as methods to treat chronic ailments and relieve tension in the body. Chiropractors charge an average of $42 per hour for massage therapy sessions.
Acupuncture therapy usually costs $75 to $95 per session on the first visit, which includes a consultation. Additional appointments cost an average of $65 without insurance.
Discounts
When paying only with cash, the visit will usually cost around $57 dollars for each session. This method is cheaper than paying with a credit or debit card.
Chiropractors who own their own clinics typically charge less than chiropractors that work in hospitals and other facilities. A single practice appointment costs about $63 per session, whereas chiropractors that work in hospitals charge an average of $70 for care. However, chiropractors rarely work in hospitals. Instead, doctors refer their patients to chiropractors in the area.
Factors that Impact Chiropractor Costs
Here are some of the factors that affect how much an appointment with a chiropractor costs.
Chiropractor’s Experience
The experience level of a chiropractor greatly affects how much the overall cost of a visit will be. Experts say that most chiropractors have at least 4 years of experience. If they have more specialized training, they have an additional 4 to 5 years of experience.
This training often involves studies in health science, human anatomy, and supervised training.
Clinic Location
The location influences what the estimated cost of an appointment will be. Demand, cost of living, taxes, and more factors affect the cost of a chiropractic appointment at a chiropractic clinic. For example, a consultation at a location in Los Angeles, California would be much higher than it would be in the small town of Great Falls, Montana.
Therapy Choices
Chiropractors often offer different types of therapy to their patients when considering treatment plans. This can include ultrasounds, hydrotherapy, and laser treatments. Your chiropractor will most likely go through the options with you to see what plan will best suit your budget and needs.
Technology Available
There are many different electronic devices and technological tools that are used in chiropractic treatment. These devices will often speed up appointments and increase the quality of the service that you are receiving.
When looking at different clinics and chiropractic offices, the amount of technological equipment that they have may influence your decision. While places that offer these technological benefits and advancements will likely provide a higher level of treatment, it is also very likely that the prices will be higher at these facilities, as they have to purchase and maintain this equipment.
How Much Does a Spinal Decompression Cost Without Insurance?
Spinal decompression is a service that gives relief to the discs and nerves in the back. It can be used to treat herniated discs, pinched nerves, and other issues.
For patients who are not covered under health insurance, spinal decompression typically costs $20 to $200 per visit. People often need to attend 2 to 5 sessions of spinal decompression. The total cost of all these visits is about $400 to $5,000.
The cost of this service also depends on where you live and the type of spinal decompression that is done to you. Some spinal decompression machines cost more than others; therefore, the kind of machine used on the patient determines how much each session costs. Compare the cost of appointments with other chiropractors in the area to get a better idea of how much it will cost to get your spine decompressed.
What should be included in these costs?
Every spinal decompression session takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete. The patient usually lies down on a machine that makes small adjustments to the back to relieve pressure between the discs in the spine.
Additional Costs
Some offices charge $100 to $150 for the first consultation. Some chiropractors prefer seeing the results of an MRI scan before doing spinal decompression treatments. An MRI scan typically costs $20-$100 per scan.
How Much Does Chiropractic Rehabilitation Cost Without Insurance?
Chiropractic offices offer different kinds of rehabilitation therapies. The goal of using different methods of therapy is to give the patient a wide range of possibilities to relieve pain.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation
This is a kind of chiropractic therapy that is used to relieve muscle spasms and reduce inflammation and other pain. The treatment is often applied in a combined effort with manual therapy and other rehab techniques. The price for electrical muscle stimulation ranges from $20 to $180 per hour. It is different depending on each location. You should expect to spend at least $30 to $60 per session.
Ultrasound Therapy
Some chiropractors use ultrasound therapy to reduce inflammation, relieve muscle pain, and increase circulation. This is believed to aid with the breaking down of scar tissue and stimulating blood flow in specific areas. Prices for ultrasound therapy in the chiropractic field range from approximately $15 to $35 per session.
Cold Laser Therapy
Chiropractors use low-light lasers to help joints and muscles heal while reducing inflammation and improving joint function. This therapy is designed to allow the body to self-heal through the use of electric stimulation and cold laser technology. There are a ton of different types of lasers, and the type of laser that is used during your appointment will impact the cost of the treatment. Newer models are more advanced but will likely cost more than older laser technology. Cold laser therapy costs around $50 to $100 per session.
How Much Does a Chiropractic Adjustment Cost Without Insurance?
The cost of a chiropractic adjustment is around $100 to $150 for a full exam. In many cases, this price includes adjustments as well. Without insurance, this is likely the amount you will pay for a typical adjustment.
Visiting a Chiropractor Without Insurance
There are a range of services offered at a chiropractic office. This care could help with pain in the neck, back, joints, muscles, or spine. It could also address conditions of migraines, arthritis, whiplash, or disc issues. If you do not have insurance, it is best to research and learn what kind of chiropractic care you will need to help with your specific situation.
Some of these services include massage therapy, spinal realignment, whiplash treatment, heat and cold therapy, dietary management, MRI scans, injury treatment, X-Rays, Physiotherapy, and even laser therapy. A consultation will help you to identify the specific issue and will give you an idea of what type of treatment will be required.
Without insurance, you will need to pay for this consultation appointment out of pocket. However, this is a necessary expense for the direction and information it will provide you with.
After this appointment, you can look into the cost of the treatment the chiropractor recommends. One very important thing to research is the number of visits it will take for you to complete this treatment plan successfully. Accidentally factoring in only the price of a single visit for a month-long treatment plan could be a detrimental mistake and lead to increased stress, which would likely slow down your progress.
When you are looking for a chiropractor, check the ratings and reviews of the clinics or other facilities that you might want to go to. Sometimes, chiropractic clinics with cheap rates don’t provide high-quality service to clients. The quality of service given to clients will be reflected in the ratings and reviews for the clinic.
What Are Some Ways to Make Chiropractor Visits More Affordable?
Even though chiropractor appointments can be expensive, especially if you don’t have health insurance, there are several things that can be done to lower the overall cost of a chiropractor appointment.
Find Coupons
To make chiropractic appointments more affordable, find and go to chiropractic clinics that offer discounts to people that don’t have insurance. Some of the best discounts offered are package deals for returning patients that require multiple sessions for full treatment. These deals can be found on the websites of chiropractic offices and by calling the clinics themselves.
While on these websites, another thing that you can do is find coupons or deals online. Newer chiropractor clinics often have Groupon deals and discounts so they can build a clientele.
Negotiate the Cost of Treatment
Even if there aren’t any deals online for the chiropractor clinics near you, don’t lose hope. Especially in cases where a patient doesn’t have health insurance, some chiropractors are willing to negotiate prices on a need-to-need basis. Many are open to setting up an extended payment schedule for patients that are in need of care that they are not able to pay for immediately.
However, this is a somewhat rare occurrence. That is why it is best to research coupons and discounts rather than relying on personal accommodations that are likely unavailable.
Go to Free Clinics
Some free clinics that offer a variety of medical services have chiropractors on standby or available for appointments. However, most of the time, the number of chiropractor appointments available at free clinics is limited, as the chiropractors that work for free clinics often work limited hours. This means that it will likely take a long time for you to get an appointment.
Overall, it can be quite expensive to go to a chiropractor, but the result is worth it. However, keep in mind that you will likely have to go to multiple appointments if you want to reduce the amount of pain or discomfort that you are currently in. Some people have to go to chiropractor appointments regularly for years on end.
However, if you are in pain and need to go to the chiropractor, don’t put it off. The longer you wait, the worse you will become. The more adjustment you need, the more each chiropractor appointment will cost. If you think that you need to see a chiropractor, talk to your doctor about your options and see if they have any recommendations for cheap, high-quality chiropractors in your area.
No Insurance?
When it comes to your healthcare, most people think that their only options are to pay for expensive Health Insurance or try out your luck being uninsured.
The great news is that you have a third option; You can join a Health Share plan that is affordable and meets your needs! Health Sharing programs are one of the most effective and affordable alternatives to Health Insurance.
If you don’t know what a Health Share is, you can start here to learn how it works and why it’s a great alternative to health insurance. If you are looking for affordable healthcare, I highly recommend checking out my article about the Best Health Share Plans.
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