If you’ve been putting off chiropractic care because you’re not sure whether your insurance will cover it — you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions our team at Forgey Chiropractic hears from new patients in Vancouver, WA.
The short answer is: yes, most major health insurance plans do cover chiropractic care. But the details — how many visits, what your copay is, whether you need a referral — vary depending on your specific plan. This guide breaks down what you need to know for the most common insurers in the Vancouver, WA and Clark County area.
The Important Thing to Know Right Now
Starting in 2025, a number of patients have called our office after being told by their insurance company — including Regence, Providence, and United Healthcare — that they no longer have chiropractic benefits. In most cases, this information has been incorrect.
If your insurer told you that you don’t have chiropractic coverage, we strongly encourage you to call back and ask specifically about chiropractic benefits under your plan. Better yet, bring your insurance card to our office and we will verify your benefits for you at no charge. Our team does this every day and we know exactly what questions to ask.
Does Washington State Require Insurance to Cover Chiropractic?
Washington State law requires that health insurance plans offering coverage for musculoskeletal conditions provide coverage for chiropractic care at the same level as other treatments for those conditions. This means insurers cannot legally discriminate against chiropractic care compared to physical therapy or other comparable services for back pain, neck pain, and related conditions.
This is an important protection for patients. If your plan covers physical therapy for back pain, it very likely covers chiropractic care for the same condition.
Insurance Plans We Work With at Forgey Chiropractic
Here is a breakdown of the major insurance plans accepted at Forgey Chiropractic in Vancouver, WA and what patients typically experience with each:
Regence BlueCross BlueShield
Regence is one of the most widely held plans in the Pacific Northwest and generally provides solid chiropractic benefits. Despite some patients being incorrectly told otherwise in 2025, Regence plans typically cover chiropractic adjustments subject to your deductible and copay. Coverage specifics depend on whether you have an individual, employer-sponsored, or marketplace plan. We are experienced in billing Regence and can verify your specific benefits before your first visit.
Providence Health Plan
Providence plans commonly include chiropractic coverage, though the number of covered visits per year and your cost-sharing will vary by plan tier. Some Providence plans require a referral from your primary care physician before visiting a chiropractor, so it is worth confirming this when you verify your benefits. Our front desk team can help you sort this out quickly.
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser operates as a managed care organization, meaning care is typically coordinated within the Kaiser network. Chiropractic coverage under Kaiser plans in Washington varies — some plans include it, others require an additional rider. If you have Kaiser coverage, call the member services number on your card and ask specifically whether chiropractic care is included in your plan. We are happy to help you understand your options.
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, including those sold through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, frequently include chiropractic benefits. Coverage levels, visit limits, and cost-sharing vary across BCBS plan tiers. We work with BCBS plans regularly and our team can verify your specific coverage quickly.
Aetna
Aetna generally provides chiropractic coverage as part of its standard health plans. Most Aetna plans cover spinal manipulation and related chiropractic services subject to your deductible and copay. Some plans include a limited number of covered visits per calendar year, typically between 20 and 30, which is sufficient for most treatment courses.
Cigna
Cigna health plans typically include chiropractic benefits and our office works with Cigna regularly. As with most insurers, your specific coverage will depend on your individual plan, deductible status, and whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum for the year.
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare plans vary widely in chiropractic coverage. Despite some misinformation circulating in early 2025, most UnitedHealthcare plans do include chiropractic benefits. We recommend calling the member services number on your card to confirm your specific plan details. Our team can also verify this on your behalf.
PacificSource
PacificSource is a regional insurer common in the Pacific Northwest and Clark County area. PacificSource plans typically cover chiropractic care and we see many patients with this coverage at our Vancouver, WA clinic.
Medicare
Medicare Part B covers chiropractic care, but only for manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation. Medicare does not cover x-rays, massage, or other chiropractic services beyond spinal manipulation itself. There is no visit limit for Medicare chiropractic coverage, but care must be medically necessary. Forgey Chiropractic accepts Medicare patients and our team is experienced in billing Medicare correctly.
Workers’ Compensation (L&I)
If your back pain, neck pain, or other condition resulted from a workplace injury, Washington State Labor and Industries (L&I) covers chiropractic care as part of workers’ compensation. We are experienced in treating work injury patients and navigating L&I claims. See our workers’ compensation page for more information.
Auto Insurance (PIP)
If you were injured in a car accident, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage — required on all Washington State auto policies — covers chiropractic care for accident-related injuries. PIP coverage applies regardless of who was at fault in the accident. We work directly with auto insurance companies and can help you understand your PIP benefits.
What Does “Coverage” Actually Mean? Key Terms to Understand
Even when your plan covers chiropractic care, your out-of-pocket costs will depend on several factors. Here are the key terms to know:
Deductible: The amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance begins covering costs. If you have a $1,500 deductible and haven’t met it yet for the year, you will pay for chiropractic visits until you reach that amount. Once met, your insurance begins sharing the cost.
Copay: A fixed amount you pay per visit after your deductible is met. Chiropractic copays typically range from $20 to $50 depending on your plan.
Coinsurance: Some plans use coinsurance instead of a copay. This means you pay a percentage of the visit cost — for example, 20% — after your deductible is met.
Visit limits: Many plans limit the number of covered chiropractic visits per calendar year, commonly between 20 and 30. If you require ongoing maintenance care beyond that limit, you would pay out of pocket or at a reduced self-pay rate.
In-network vs. out-of-network: Seeing an in-network chiropractor means your insurer has a negotiated rate with that provider, which typically results in lower costs for you. Forgey Chiropractic works with the major insurers listed above as an in-network or participating provider.
How to Check Your Chiropractic Coverage Before Your Visit
You have a few options for verifying your benefits before scheduling:
Option 1 — Call your insurer directly. Use the member services number on the back of your insurance card. Ask these specific questions: Does my plan cover chiropractic care? Do I need a referral? What is my copay or coinsurance for chiropractic? Has my deductible been met? Is there a visit limit, and how many have I used?
Option 2 — Let us do it for you. This is the easiest option. Call our office at (360) 573-5500 or bring your insurance card to your first visit and our front desk team will verify your benefits at no charge. We do this every day and typically have answers within minutes.
Option 3 — Check your insurer’s online portal. Most major insurers have member portals where you can log in and search for your chiropractic benefits. Look under “Benefits Summary” or search for “chiropractic” or “spinal manipulation.”
What If I Don’t Have Insurance or My Plan Doesn’t Cover Chiropractic?
No insurance? No problem. We offer straightforward self-pay rates for patients without chiropractic coverage. Many patients find that paying out of pocket for chiropractic care is more affordable than they expected — especially when compared to the cost of ongoing medication, missed work days, or more invasive treatments down the road.
Call our office at (360) 573-5500 and ask about our self-pay options. We are committed to making chiropractic care accessible to everyone in the Vancouver, WA community.
Ready to Use Your Benefits? Book a Same-Day Appointment at Forgey Chiropractic
If back pain, neck pain, headaches, or another condition has been holding you back, there is a good chance your insurance will cover the care you need. Don’t let confusion about coverage keep you from feeling better.
Forgey Chiropractic is located at 601 East 22nd Street in Vancouver, WA and is open six days a week. Same-day appointments are available. Our team will handle the insurance verification so you can focus on your recovery.
Call us at (360) 573-5500 or book online to schedule your appointment today.
Forgey Chiropractic serves patients throughout Vancouver, WA and surrounding Clark County communities including Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Orchards, Camas, Ridgefield, and Battle Ground.
