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Does Medicare Cover Chiropractic Care

Quick answer

Yes, but narrowly. Medicare Part B covers manual manipulation of the spine when a chiropractor determines it is medically necessary to correct a vertebral subluxation. It does not cover the exam, X-rays, or any other service a chiropractor performs. After you meet the 2026 Part B deductible of $283, you pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for each covered adjustment, with no charge if you have a supplemental plan that covers the coinsurance.

At a glance

Medicare Part B covers spinal manipulation to correct a subluxation, and nothing else a chiropractor does.

The 2026 Part B deductible is $283 for the year, and the standard monthly premium is $202.90.

After the deductible, you pay 20 percent coinsurance on each covered adjustment.

Medicare does not cover chiropractic exams, X-rays, massage, acupuncture, or maintenance care.

Claims use CPT codes 98940 through 98942, and Medicare requires modifiers documenting active treatment.

Congress is currently considering bills that would expand Medicare's chiropractic benefit, but neither has passed as of this writing.

Hornback Chiropractic is in network with Medicare at all three offices.

In this post

What Medicare actually covers

Medicare Part B covers exactly one chiropractic service: manual manipulation of the spine to correct what Medicare calls a subluxation, meaning a spinal joint that has moved out of its normal position. Coverage requires that the manipulation be medically necessary and actively corrective, not maintenance care for a condition that has already stabilized.

This is a narrower benefit than most people expect. Medicare does not evaluate or pay for anything else a chiropractor typically does in the course of a visit.

What Medicare does not cover

The examination that determines whether manipulation is needed

X-rays or other imaging

Massage therapy or manual soft tissue work

Acupuncture

Spinal decompression therapy

Any care once your condition has stabilized and further manipulation would be considered maintenance rather than active correction

That last exclusion is the one that changes month to month for a given patient. The same manipulation that Medicare covers while you are improving becomes non-covered maintenance care once your chiropractor's own documentation shows you have plateaued. This is a Medicare-wide rule, not a Hornback policy, and it applies to every chiropractor who bills Medicare.

Your 2026 out-of-pocket costs

Your 2026 Medicare Part B chiropractic costs: deductible, premium and coinsurance
Item	2026 amount
Part B annual deductible	$283
Standard Part B monthly premium	$202.90
Your coinsurance per covered visit, after the deductible	20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount

If you have a Medigap supplemental plan, it typically covers some or all of that 20 percent coinsurance, which can bring your per-visit cost to zero once the deductible is met. If you do not have supplemental coverage, budget for the coinsurance on every covered visit for the rest of the calendar year after your deductible is satisfied.

How claims are billed: CPT codes and modifiers

Chiropractic manipulation is billed to Medicare under CPT codes 98940 through 98942, which distinguish by how many spinal regions are treated. Every claim also requires a modifier documenting whether the service is active treatment or maintenance care, because Medicare pays only for the former.

Medicare claim modifiers for chiropractic manipulation and what they mean
Modifier	Meaning
AT	Active treatment. Required for Medicare to consider payment.
GA	An Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage was issued in advance because the provider expects Medicare to deny the claim.
ABN	The notice itself, given to you before a likely non-covered service so you can decide whether to proceed and pay directly.

If you are asked to sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice, it means your chiropractor expects Medicare to deny that particular visit, most often because the documentation points to maintenance rather than active care. Signing it does not mean the visit is unnecessary. It means you are choosing to pay for it yourself because Medicare's specific coverage rule does not apply to it.

Medicare Advantage: what is different

Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover at least the same spinal manipulation benefit as Original Medicare. Many plans add coverage beyond that baseline, such as exams or a limited number of extra visits, but the details vary by plan and by insurer. Advantage plans commonly use different copay structures than the 20 percent Original Medicare coinsurance, and some require prior authorization before chiropractic visits. Check your specific Advantage plan's documents or call your insurer directly, since "Medicare Advantage" describes dozens of different plan designs rather than one standard benefit.

Is the benefit about to change?

Possibly, eventually. Two companion bills are currently before Congress that would expand Medicare's chiropractic benefit beyond spinal manipulation alone.

Bills before Congress that would expand Medicare's chiropractic benefit, with sponsor and status
Bill	Sponsor	Status
H.R. 539, Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act	Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL-17), introduced January 16, 2025	Introduced. Has not passed the House.
S. 106, companion Senate bill	Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND)	Introduced. Has not passed the Senate.

Both bills remain at the introduced stage in Congress. Neither has been voted on by its chamber, and neither is law. If either passes, it could expand Medicare's chiropractic benefit to include services such as evaluation and management and diagnostic imaging that are currently excluded. Until that happens, the coverage rules described in this article are the ones that apply. This section will be updated if either bill's status changes.

How to use your Medicare benefit at Hornback

Hornback Chiropractic is in network with Medicare at all three offices. Bring your Medicare card to your first visit, and the front desk will verify your benefit and walk you through what a typical course of active treatment costs after your deductible.

Lakewood Ranch, Gatewood Dr

11023 Gatewood Dr #101, Bradenton, FL 34211

(941) 744-1585

Sarasota, Waterside

6987 Professional Parkway East, Sarasota, FL 34240

(941) 210-7057

Palmetto, North River

9544 Buffalo Rd, Palmetto, FL 34221

(941) 417-2069

Frequently asked questions

Does Medicare cover chiropractic care?

Yes, narrowly. Medicare Part B covers manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation, when it is medically necessary and actively corrective. It does not cover exams, X-rays, or other chiropractic services.

What is the Medicare deductible for chiropractic care in 2026?

The 2026 Part B annual deductible is $283. This applies to all Part B services, not just chiropractic care, so it may already be met by other medical expenses earlier in the year.

How much does a chiropractor visit cost with Medicare?

After you meet the $283 annual Part B deductible, you pay 20 percent coinsurance of the Medicare-approved amount for each covered adjustment. A Medigap supplemental plan may cover that coinsurance in full.

Does Medicare cover chiropractic X-rays or exams?

No. Medicare's chiropractic benefit covers only the spinal manipulation itself. Exams, X-rays, and other imaging are not covered as part of that benefit.

What does the AT modifier mean on a chiropractic bill?

AT stands for active treatment. Medicare requires this modifier for a manipulation claim to be considered for payment, distinguishing active corrective care from maintenance care.

Why would my chiropractor ask me to sign an ABN?

An Advance Beneficiary Notice means your chiropractor expects Medicare to deny that specific visit, usually because the documentation indicates maintenance rather than active treatment. Signing it lets you choose to pay for the visit yourself.

Does Medicare Advantage cover more chiropractic care than Original Medicare?

Every Medicare Advantage plan must cover at least the same spinal manipulation benefit as Original Medicare, and many add extra coverage such as exams or additional visits. The specifics vary by plan, so check your plan's documents directly.

Is Congress about to expand Medicare's chiropractic benefit?

Two bills, H.R. 539 and S. 106, propose expanding the benefit and are currently before Congress. Both remain at the introduced stage and have not been voted on by either chamber, so no change has taken effect.

Does Medicare cover maintenance chiropractic care?

No. Medicare's chiropractic benefit covers only active, corrective treatment for a subluxation. Once your chiropractor's documentation shows your condition has stabilized, continued manipulation is classified as maintenance care and is not covered.

Does Hornback Chiropractic accept Medicare?

Yes, at all three offices. Bring your Medicare card to your visit and the front desk will verify your benefit before you begin care.

What is the standard Medicare Part B premium in 2026?

The standard monthly Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90. Some beneficiaries pay more based on income under the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount.

How many chiropractic visits does Medicare cover per year?

There is no fixed annual visit limit. Coverage depends on medical necessity and active treatment status for each visit, documented individually, rather than a set number of visits per year.

Sources and further reading

Medicare.gov, Chiropractic services coverage

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Local Coverage Determination L34585, Billing and Coding Guidelines for Chiropractic Services

Congress.gov, H.R. 539, Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act

Congress.gov, S. 106

About the author

Dr. Cynthia Hornback, DC

Founder and Clinic Director

Dr. Cynthia Hornback, DC, founded Hornback Chiropractic and Wellness in 2002 and serves as its clinic director. She specializes in Kennedy Decompression Technique and practices at the Lakewood Ranch office on Gatewood Drive. The practice now includes four chiropractic physicians across three offices in Sarasota and Manatee counties, serving more than 600 wellness membership patients in addition to insurance and Medicare patients.

Spinal Decompression