Understanding the Cost of a Chiropractor After a Car Accident

Aside from the worry of being injured, many people also find themselves worrying about the cost of care for their injuries. 

The cost of a chiropractor after a car accident is not a cut-and-dried situation.

In this guide, we will provide clarity on the factors that affect the cost of seeing a chiropractor after a car accident and who or what entity is responsible for those costs.

Table of Contents

• How Much Does a Chiropractor Generally Cost?
• How Are Chiropractor Rates Determined in Oregon?
• Who Pays for a Chiropractor After an Accident?
• What Medical Care Is Covered After an Auto Accident?
• Post-Car Accident Chiropractor Cost FAQs
• Get the Treatment You Need to Fully Recover at Cascade Spine and Injury

How Much Does a Chiropractor Generally Cost?

When it comes to the cost of a chiropractor after a car accident, there is no standard, concrete answer.

The cost of a chiropractor after a car accident can vary depending on a number of factors, such as: 

• Qualification/Experience
• Location
• Your Lifestyle
• Severity or Extent of Your Injury

Let’s take an in-depth look at these cost factors.

Qualification/Experience

Like most professions, experience and qualifications can impact the cost of chiropractic care. 

While all chiropractors must meet basic criteria to obtain a license to practice, some chiropractors may continue their education beyond these requirements and earn other specialized certifications.

For example, Dr. McClaren is a licensed chiropractic physician in the state of Oregon, but also has additional certifications such as being an Accredited Accident Reconstructionist and obtaining a certification in Spinal Biomechanical Engineering along with extensive post-doctoral training focused on treating traumatic injuries. 

These accreditations go above and beyond the basic requirements of providing chiropractic care and ensure patients that they are receiving top-of-the-line treatment from an experienced hand. 

If you are looking for chiropractic care after an accident in Portland, contact Cascade Spine & Injury Center to schedule an appointment today.

Location

Where you live or are seeking treatment can also play a role in the cost of a chiropractor after a car accident. 

If you live in an affluent area with a high cost of living and many chiropractic clinics to choose from, you can expect a higher cost than if you were seeking treatment from a rural area with only one or two clinic options available. 

In addition, varying locations have different laws when it comes to determining who is responsible for paying your chiropractor bill after a car accident.

Your Lifestyle

The cost of chiropractic care can also depend on your lifestyle and overall attitude towards your health. 

If you are a health-conscious person who adheres to your chiropractor’s recommendations for rehabilitation, the cost of your chiropractic care may be less than someone who is less vigilant about their well-being and requires more visits to recover from their injury.

Severity or Extent of Your Injury

The severity of your injury can play a huge role in the cost of your chiropractic care. 

Severe injuries may require more:

• Chiropractic visits
• Tests such as MRI scanning; and
• Services such as rehabilitation and massage therapy

When people are in car accidents, it is not uncommon for them to sustain injury to multiple body parts. Requiring multiple types of treatment for different injuries will certainly impact the cost of your chiropractic bill.

How Are Chiropractor Rates Determined in Oregon?

In Oregon, chiropractors do not have a say in the cost of medical fees and rates.

Medical fees, including those incurred by chiropractic care, are set by the state’s Workers Compensation Fee Schedule.

Who Pays for a Chiropractor After an Accident?

After the shock of being in a car accident and being injured wears off, the first question most people have is, “Who is paying for all of this?”

Some states, like Oregon, require drivers to have mandatory Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Your PIP will pay up to a certain amount of costs for medical care regardless of fault.

If you live in a state that does not require PIP, you or your private insurance company will be required to pay for your medical expenses, including chiropractic care. If the other driver was at fault for the accident they or their insurance company would be liable for reimbursing your medical expenses.

What Medical Care Is Covered After an Auto Accident in Portland?

In Portland, PIP provides up to $15,000 of coverage for each person in the vehicle, regardless of fault. 

This coverage includes all necessary medical care, including:

• Chiropractic visits
• Labs and screenings
• Surgery referrals
• Acupuncture
• Massage therapy
• And more

What Happens if Someone Doesn’t Have PIP Coverage in Portland?

In most cases, most Portland drivers will have PIP insurance. However, there are some outliers.

For example, the insurance that cab drivers get through their company doesn’t provide PIP coverage. 

At Cascade Spine and Injury Center, we work closely with patients who do not have PIP. We can accept out-of-pocket costs in cash and also work with private insurances. 

If you are currently waiting for a claim to be settled in court, your attorney can notify our office and we will hold all billing until your case is settled, regardless of how much time it takes.

Post-Car Accident Chiropractor Cost FAQs

For many, the cost of chiropractic care after a car accident can be a concern. To ease your worries, we will go over a few commonly asked questions about the cost of a chiropractor after a car accident.

What Is the Average Cost of a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?

The average cost of a chiropractor session for a car accident injury can range from approximately $63 and up. 

The cost of chiropractic care can vary depending on:

• Types of screening/treatments needed
• The number of sessions needed
• Your location
• And more

How Can I Prove to My Insurance That Medical Coverage Is Necessary?

When it comes to filing a claim for medical care caused by a car accident, it is very important to seek medical care as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the harder it may be to prove to your insurance company that your injury was caused by the car accident and should be covered.

To prove to your insurance company that medical coverage is necessary, be sure to collect the following documents: 

• Initial symptoms report
• Records of all of your treatments, including chiropractic treatments
• Records of all expenses related to chiropractic treatments and other medical expenses

How Much Coverage Will I Receive for Chiropractic Care?

The amount of insurance coverage you will receive depends on your insurance provider or the coverage amount from PIP if your state offers or mandates it. 

In Oregon, those protected by PIP can expect up to $15,000 covered cost in medical expenses for each person involved in the car accident.

Can You Receive Discounted Chiropractic Care?

If you have little to no insurance, a great way to keep the cost of a chiropractor after a car accident low is to check if your clinic is a member of ChiroHealthUSA. 

ChiroHealthUSA is a discount medical plan that can reduce the cost of your chiropractic care in participating clinics. 

At Cascade Spine & Injury Center, we are members of ChiroHealthUSA. To learn more, contact us.

What Is the Best Way to Cut Costs on Your Chiropractor Bill After a Car Accident?

The best way to cut costs on your chiropractor bill after a car accident is to seek treatment as soon as possible. 

The longer you wait to treat an injury, the more serious it can become. Some injuries can become permanent chronic conditions that can impact your health and wallet for years to come.

The best thing to do for your health and medical expenses is to not delay when it comes to treatment and risk making matters worse.

Get the Treatment You Need to Fully Recover at Cascade Spine and Injury

If you’re looking for chiropractic care after a car accident in Portland, we can help whether you have insurance or not.

Our injury treatment center accepts a wide variety of insurances, including: 

• Auto Insurance/PIP/MedPay
• Worker’s Compensation
• ChiroHealthUSE Discount Program
• Providence
• Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield
• Premera Blue Cross
• Aetna
• Cigna
• United Healthcare
• First Choice Health Network

If you don’t see your insurance on the list, please call us and we will provide free insurance verification. Sometimes insurers can go by different names, so we can verify over the phone if an insurance company is in our network. 

If you do not have insurance, we are happy to work with you to figure out a plan for payment or hold payments until you reach a settlement. Contact us today to learn all about your payment options and set up an initial consultation for your car accident injury.