Why Chiropractors are Dropping Insurance & Opting for Self-Pay

November 19, 2025

When most people think of insurance, they assume it guarantees comprehensive care. But in the chiropractic world, insurance often does the opposite—it limits what we can do for you during a visit. Insurance companies decide which treatments they’ll cover, how long we’re allowed to spend per appointment, and even how many visits you’re “allowed” to have, regardless of what your body actually needs. Instead of allowing us to take a full-body, whole-person approach, insurance pushes us toward doing only the bare minimum that fits their codes.
These restrictions don’t come from clinical expertise—they come from cost-saving structures created by insurance companies. As chiropractors, we’re trained to assess, treat, and support your body in a way that promotes real, lasting improvement. But when insurance dictates the visit, it often forces us to choose between doing what’s covered and doing what’s clinically best.

Why We Prefer a Self-Pay Model
Choosing self-pay frees us to treat you, not the insurance plan. It lets us provide the right combination of adjustments, soft-tissue work, rehab exercises, and corrective guidance—without worrying about what’s “billable.” This means you get a more thorough, personalized, and results-driven appointment.
Self-pay also removes surprises. No denied claims. No unexpected bills months later. No rushing through care because of time limits or coding restrictions. Just straightforward, transparent pricing—and higher-quality care.
What If You Have Out-of-Network Benefits?
If your insurance plan includes out-of-network benefits, we can still help you get the most from it. At the end of your visit, we’re able to create a superbill—a detailed receipt with the proper chiropractic insurance codes. You can submit this directly to your insurance provider for potential reimbursement or to have it applied toward your deductible depending on your policy. This gives you the freedom of self-pay with the possibility of receiving money back from your insurance company.

Self-Pay Is Often Similar to a Copay
Many people assume paying out of pocket must be more expensive. But in reality, the average chiropractic copay today often falls between $40 and $70, and some plans even require deductibles to be met before insurance covers anything at all. Our visit fees are intentionally kept comparable to—or sometimes even lower than—what many people already pay for an insurance-based appointment, just without the complications, limitations, or red tape.
In short, the self-pay approach puts your health back in the driver’s seat. You get the time, attention, and individualized care you deserve—all in a way that’s simple, predictable, and focused entirely on helping you feel better.