Affordable Chiropractor in Lincoln NE: Costs, HSA and FSA

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An affordable chiropractor is one where you know the price before you start, you only pay for the care your exam calls for, and you can use the health money you already set aside. At our Lincoln office, the first visit is a $20 new-patient evaluation, we take cash, cards and checks, and you get a receipt you can send to your insurance company yourself. The $20 evaluation is not valid for Medicare beneficiaries.

I'm Dr. James Cain, DC, the chiropractor you'll meet in Suite C at Champion Family Chiropractic, in the center of the building on Pine Lake Road. I put this together for people with a high deductible, no insurance, or an HSA or FSA balance they aren't sure how to use. It's late October, so if your FSA runs on the calendar year, this is the month to read it.

What does a chiropractor cost without insurance in Lincoln?

It depends on the office and on what your exam shows, so the honest answer starts with one visit. Here, that first visit is the $20 new-patient evaluation: a consultation, an exam and X-rays if they're needed, in about 30 minutes. Not valid for Medicare beneficiaries. If you have Medicare, please call before booking.

Fees for ongoing care change over time, so call the front desk for current prices. The pricing page lays out how payment works.

You're not the only one paying out of pocket. In 2023, 41.7% of privately insured people under 65 were on a high-deductible health plan (CDC National Health Statistics Reports). On those plans, most visits come out of your own pocket until the deductible is met.

How does a cash chiropractic practice work?

A cash practice means you pay the office directly at each visit and the office doesn't bill your insurance company. That's how our office works. We accept cash, credit cards, debit cards and checks. We don't take tap-to-pay, so bring the card itself.

Here's why it matters for your wallet. When nobody bills insurance, there's no bill weeks later for an amount you didn't expect. You hear what I recommend and what it costs before you decide anything, and you can say yes, no or "let me think about it."

Can I use my HSA or FSA for a chiropractor?

Usually, yes. The IRS lists fees you pay a chiropractor for medical care as a medical expense (IRS Publication 502), and HSA and health FSA money is meant for qualified medical expenses (IRS Publication 969). Every plan has its own rules, so check yours.

Here's how to use it, step by step:

1. Check your balance and your deadline. Log in to your plan's website or app. Look for the plan year end date and any grace period.

2. Ask your plan how it pays. Many plans give you a card. Ask whether it works at a medical office that runs it as a regular credit or debit card. If not, pay another way.

3. Keep every receipt. Plans can ask you to prove an expense. Snap a photo of each receipt the day you get it.

4. File for paying yourself back if you used another card. Most plans have a claim form or an upload button. Attach the receipt.

The part most people don't know: health FSAs are generally "use it or lose it." A plan can give you up to 2 1/2 extra months after the plan year ends, or let you carry some money into next year, but not both (IRS Publication 969). HSA money is different. What's left at the end of the year generally carries over to the next year.

How do I ask my insurance company to pay me back?

Send them your receipt and ask. Insurance isn't billed here, so the receipt is how you do it yourself. Whether they pay you back depends on your plan.

1. Call the number on your insurance card first. Ask: "Do I have out-of-network chiropractic benefits, and does what I pay count toward my deductible?"

2. Write down the answer, the date and the name of the person you talked to.

3. Send the receipt the way they tell you, through their app, website or mail.

4. Watch your mail and your account. If you hear nothing in a few weeks, call back with your notes in hand.

Some plans with out-of-network benefits count what you paid toward your out-of-network deductible, even when they don't pay you back yet. That's worth asking on that first call.

How can I keep the cost of chiropractic care down?

The biggest savings come from not paying for more visits than you need. These are the common mistakes I'd steer you away from:

• Waiting until it's bad. I'd much rather see a stiff back in its first couple of weeks than after three months of working around it.

• Skipping the home work. The exercises you do between visits are part of the plan. Do them, and tell me honestly when you didn't.

• Not asking about the plan. Ask how many visits I'm suggesting, why, and when we'll check whether it's working. A good plan has a check-in point.

• Letting FSA money expire. If your plan year ends December 31, you have about nine weeks left.

• Booking during work. Our adjusting hours start at 7:30 AM on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and new patients can also be seen outside the posted hours, early or late. That can save you a half day of paid time off.

When is it time to get your back or neck checked?

Get an exam if pain hangs on past 10 to 14 days, returns again and again, or gets in the way of sleep, work or your kids' practices. No referral is needed. If my exam shows you need imaging, a specialist or a medical doctor, I'll explain why and help you find the right next stop.

Skip our office and get emergency care (911 or the ER) right away for chest pain, sudden loss of strength or feeling in both legs, trouble holding your bladder or bowels, or pain in the back or neck following a car crash or a hard fall.

If your pain runs down a leg, my sciatica guide covers what helps at home. Desk workers can start with the neck pain guide.

What I tell my patients

Cost depends on what we find during the exam. Our care plans aren't cookie cutter, because we need to understand what's going on and have real goals to strive for.

Cost shouldn't be a surprise. Before we start care, I go over what I found, what I'd suggest and what it costs, and then you decide.

Screenshot this list before you call:

• Your HSA or FSA balance and plan year end date

• The card you'll pay with (not a phone wallet)

• The answer from your insurance about out-of-network benefits

• A place to save every receipt

• Your best time to come in, before work or after

• If you have Medicare, call before booking

Questions people ask

Do chiropractors take HSA cards?

It depends on your plan's card and the office. We take credit and debit cards, so ask your plan whether your card works at a medical office that runs it that way. If it doesn't, pay another way and file the receipt with your plan to pay yourself back.

Is chiropractic care covered by insurance?

Some plans cover it and some don't, and coverage is different for every plan. We don't bill insurance, but we give you a receipt you can send in yourself. Call the number on your card to ask what your plan pays for out-of-network chiropractic care.

Can I bring my kids on the same visit?

Yes. Families often book back to back so everyone is in and out together. My guide to kids' visits covers what a child's first visit looks like.

Ready for your evaluation? Text or call the front desk at 402-423-4422. You can also book online at championchirolincoln.com.

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Written by Dr. James Cain, DC, a chiropractor at Champion Family Chiropractic in Lincoln, Nebraska. This article is general education, not personal medical advice. Questions about your own health? Call or text us at 402-423-4422 and we'll help you figure out the next step. For a medical emergency, call 911.