The benefits of chiropractic care
Chiropractors are health care professionals trained to treat the neuromusculoskeletal system, which of course includes bones, but also tendons and muscles. Seeing a chiropractor if you experience pain or mobility issues in any of those areas can help relieve symptoms, and even improve posture and your overall well-being.
While chiropractic care tends to be more affordable than a lot of other types of physical treatments, you will still have to pay some out-of-pocket expenses if you don’t have health insurance. Even if you do have insurance, oftentimes aspects of chiropractic care such as x-rays or evaluations are not covered.
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How much does a chiropractor cost without insurance?
It’s difficult to predict exactly how much you might pay to see a chiropractor, but the price can range between $60 and $200, with the average cost between $100 to $150. These prices often take into account an initial physical exam.
You can more accurately calculate the price of a chiropractor if you consider some key factors, including which treatments you receive, the level of the chiropractor’s experience, the location of your chiropractor’s office, and your lifestyle.
1. Treatment type
Chiropractors have many different rehabilitation treatments in their tool belts according to your particular needs, from pain relief to relaxation to muscle strengthening. Below are some of the most common treatments and what you can expect to pay for them.
Chiropractic massage
If you’re receiving a chiropractic massage, the price will likely be between $30 and $70. However, this does not take into account an initial consultation a chiropractor may require before offering you the treatment. Also, depending on your circumstances, the massage may have to be carried out over multiple sessions, increasing the price of the service.
Spinal decompression
Spinal decompressions help alleviate pain from a pinched nerve or a herniated disc by relieving pressure on the spine. This service is a longer-term process that requires multiple sessions with your chiropractor, and the cost can range from $50 to $250 for each session. If your symptoms are more severe, you should expect to pay on the higher end of that range.
Electrical muscle stimulation
EMS is a treatment that helps reduce muscle spasms, inflammation, and pain in the body using a device called a TENS machine. The average price for this service sits around $30 to $60 per session, but in extreme cases can reach up to $180.
Ultrasound therapy
As the name suggests, ultrasound therapy uses ultrasonic waves to alleviate pain and promote healing by relaxing muscles, encouraging circulation, and reducing inflammation. Ultrasound therapy is a fairly inexpensive chiropractic service, ranging from $15 to $35 per session. It is often offered to patients as an additional treatment but may require multiple sessions for maximum effect.
Cold laser therapy
Cold laser therapy utilizes low-light lasers to reduce pain and inflammation, as well as to improve joint function and muscle healing. Because cold laser therapy can be used in many different ways for different purposes, it is a little bit harder to gauge a price point. However, the minimum cost for the service tends to hover around $50, but can also run up to hundreds of dollars per session.
Scans and tests
Your chiropractor may require you to undergo scanning or testing so that they understand the scope of your needs. These can include:
- An MRI, which can cost anywhere between $350 and $800
- Electromyography, with an average cost between $150 and $500
- Radiography, or x-rays, can cost between $260 and $460
| Treatment | Cost |
| Chiropractic massage | $30 – $70 |
| Spinal decompression | $50 – $200 |
| Electrical muscle stimulation | $30 – $180 |
| Ultrasound therapy | $15 – $35 |
| Cold laser therapy | $50 – hundreds of dollars |
| MRI scan | $350 – $800 |
| Electromyography | $150 – $500 |
| Radiography | $260 – $460 |
This chart summarizes the price ranges of some of the most common chiropractic services.
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2. The experience of the chiropractor
The price you can expect to pay to see a chiropractor can also depend on the level of experience and expertise your chiropractor has.
To become a chiropractor, you must hold an undergraduate degree in the medical sciences and have four to five years of additional training on top of that. Upon graduation, chiropractors also must have at least one year of supervised practical work. Overall, this adds up to around 4000 hours of work and study in order to become a licensed chiropractor.
In general, the more experience a chiropractor has, the more they are likely to charge for their services. For instance, if they have completed additional training than what is required or have invested money and time to specialize in a particular area of chiropathy, they may charge their patients more. At the same time, you can also expect a higher quality of care.
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3. The location of your chiropractor’s office
Like with many other goods and services across the country, price often differs depending on the cost of living, taxes, and the level of demand in a given location. In the case of chiropractic care, the cost of seeing a chiropractor will, in general, probably be higher in an expensive city like New York and cheaper in suburban areas. However, if there is a high demand for chiropractors with little supply, such as in rural areas, you may also face higher fees for services.
Even within a city or town, the price of seeing a chiropractor can shift depending on whether they run their own private practice or work from a hospital or other medical center.
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4. Your lifestyle
Many people don’t consider their lifestyle when figuring out the cost of seeing a chiropractor, but it can play a large role in the type of treatment you need. For instance, taking good care of your health and following your chiropractor’s advice will likely decrease the severity of your symptoms and thus the number of appointments you’d require.
The same logic applies to your profession. If your job requires heavy labour or lots of movement, such as construction workers or athletes, your overall chiropractic costs will likely be higher.
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Ways to save money at the chiropractor
If you don’t have health insurance to cover the cost of your chiropractor, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to shell out large sums of money to receive the care you need.
Some people are unaware that you don’t have to be referred by your doctor to see a chiropractor, meaning that you don’t have to pay money for a doctor’s appointment to receive a referral! Instead, just book a consultation or appointment with a chiropractor directly.
If you are an active-duty military member or a veteran, the government may subsidize the cost of your chiropractic care. As well, since many chiropractic treatments are most effective over multiple sessions, some chiropractors offer financing options that can help you pay for your services. Talk to your chiropractor about your options.
However, when it comes to medical care, cheaper is not often better. In some cases, the cheapest chiropractor may be qualified, which could lead to making your symptoms worse and requiring you to pay even more money down the road. Make sure that you research your chiropractic options thoroughly and check ratings before making a decision.