At least once a week a patient will ask us “Does Medicare cover Chiropractic?” or Can I bulk bill my chiropractic visits” We are happy to tell them that the answer is yes. Not all chiropractors will bulkbill Medicare so it is important that you check that when booking an appointment with a Chiropractor.
As part of your Medicare coverage you are entitled to up to five bulk billed chiropractic visits a year fully paid for by Medicare. This is organised by your GP through a Chronic Disease Management plan (CDM) or Team Care Arrangement (TCA).
This coverage can save you over $250 in health care costs. Unfortunately many people who are eligible for this plan don’t even know that it exists.
WHO’S ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE FUNDED CHIROPRACTIC CARE?
You are eligible if you have a chronic condition and you have a Medicare card. Your GP will create a specific chronic disease management (CDM) plan for you and they can then refer you to a chiropractor on a team care arrangement (TCA) for up to 5 visits. All your costs will be bulk billed to Medicare.
HOW DO I GET A REFERRAL?
First you will need to consult your GP about your specific conditions and discuss with them your eligibility for chiropractic care under a CDM plan.
If you are eligible your GP will send us your TCA referral and we can then make a time for you to come in for your first visit that is fully funded by Medicare.
IS ALL THE CHIROPRCTIC VISIT COST BULK BILLED?
No, there is no cost to you at all. At the time of each visit we bulk bill the cost to Medicare and we guarantee that there won’t be any gap fees or hidden charges to you. This means that Medicare will cover the full cost of each of your visits.
WHAT IS A CHRONIC CONDITION?
A chronic condition is defined as a condition that has been present for six months or longer.
It’s important to remember that while you may be suffering from acute low back pain, neck pain or a headache that has only be present for a few days, often the underlying cause is a chronic problem that you are not aware of.
WHAT CONDITIONS ARE ELIGIBLE?
Any condition that is chronic and complex is covered by Medicare through the CDM program and can be bulk billed. The most common conditions we see at Sydney Family Chiropractic are:
Low back pain
Neck pain
Headaches
Sciatica
Bulging and Prolapsed Disc Injuries
Pain from Arthritis/ Degenerative Joint Disease
WHAT IF I AM ALREADY SEEING A CHIROPRACTOR?
The same conditions apply regardless of whether you are currently seeing a chiropractor or have never been to the chiropractor before. Medicare will pay for up to 5 of your ongoing visits with your chiropractor following the referral from your GP.
If you are currently seeing a chiropractor the 5 visits that you are entitled to can be used during your ongoing treatment.
WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Please leave a comment below if you have any questions we would love to hear from you. Alternatively have a look at the information within this website about what we treat such as low back pain, sciatica, shoulder pain, neck pain or headaches. You will also find many exercise and movement will help both improve the flexibility and strengthen your spine.
For more information about chronic disease management and Medicare go to:
Book a consultation with us and we can kick-start the healing process. Click HERE to book your initial consultation with one of our Chiropractors at Sydney Family Chiropractic.
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