*Prices are based on a single person living in Sydney earning less than $93,000 per year.
Below are a few options from Finder partners with chiropractic benefits. All have a 2-month waiting period. All prices are based on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and living in Sydney.
The cost of visiting a chiropractor can vary depending on who you see, but generally, there will be two different costs:
| Response | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Chiropractic and osteopathy | 11.3% | 6.67% |
Aside from paying all the fees out of pocket, there are two different options for paying for chiropractic services: Medicare and private health insurance.
Medicare can help with chiropractor costs for up to five visits a year if you suffer from chronic pain. To claim, you need to speak to your GP about a Chronic Disease Management plan (CDM) or Team Care Arrangement (TCA).
This could save you between $200 and $500 over the course of 5 sessions.
A chronic condition is defined as a pain or injury that you've had for six months or longer. Commonly these can include:
If you are not eligible for a CDM plan or TCA, you either have to pay full price or get private health insurance.
If you have an extras policy that covers chiropractic treatment, it can chip in on the cost, though you'll still likely have to pay some of the cost. Before you can claim, you may need to complete a waiting period of two months.
The amount you can claim per visit will depend on your extras policy, and there's generally a limit to how much you can claim each year, $300 for example.
Your insurer will most probably pay a percentage of your fee for each visit until you reach the total limit for the year. For example, if your initial consultation is $100 your insurer may pay you for 60% of the cost leaving you with an out-of-pocket expense of $40.Alternatively, you may get a set refund per session, such as $20 per hour.
Here's a summary of how those costs would compare with and without private insurance over time. In this case, saving you $188 over 8 treatments.
| Treatment cost | With extras cover | |
|---|---|---|
| Visit 1 | $120 | $72 |
| Visit 2 | $50 | $30 |
| Visit 3 | $50 | $30 |
| Visit 4 | $50 | $30 |
| Visit 5 | $50 | $30 |
| Visit 6 | $50 | $30 |
| Visit 7 | $50 | $30 |
| Visit 8 | $50 | $30 |
| Total treatment cost | $470 | $282 |
It's also a good idea to check whether your health insurer has a preferred provider before you see a chiropractor just to be sure that it will cover your claim. If you already have someone in mind, it's best to check if they take HICAPS payment, as you can then use your private health insurance card to get an on-the-spot discount.
Many funds have sign-up deals that waive the waiting period for treatments like chiropractic - check out these verified deals from Finder partners to see if you could benefit.
While COVID-19 vaccinations are free in Australia, other vaccines with out-of-pocket costs can be covered by private health insurance with some extras policies.
Get expert advice from the comfort of your own home, or even on the go.
Does insurance cover acupuncture? Find out here.
How can you make a claim for prescription medication on your private health insurance policy? Find out in this comprehensive guide.
What do the annual benefit limits on your health insurance extras cover actually mean? Find out here.
Find out when blood pressure monitors will be covered by Health Insurance and what you stand to receive in a claim.
This article explains which private health insurance policies cover orthotics and how you can find the right level of cover for your health needs.
If you're wondering what pharmaceutical costs are covered by private health insurance, we've got a guide to health cover for non-PBS pharmaceuticals here.
A guide to extras benefits for hearing aids.
