Does Medicare cover chiropractic services?

Medicare Part B covers medically-necessary chiropractic services. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines state the spinal manipulation must be performed by a qualified provider to correct a subluxation. X-rays, massage therapy and other services or tests must be paid separately.

Medicare does not pay for maintenance care, as stated by the American Chiropractic Association. Examples of non-covered care include treatments to prevent illness or disease, therapies to slow the worsening of a chronic condition or supportive adjustments to promote a healthy lifestyle.

In 2012, chiropractic providers received $495 million in Medicare payments, according to official data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.