| The healthcare industry in the United States is | | | | possible in order to make chiropractic care more |
| dominated by the culture of conventional Western | | | | available to consumers. They can, however, only |
| medicine. And health insurance caters to those | | | | absorb so much of the cost of providing that |
| who control the industry: medical doctors and | | | | care. Another way chiropractors can help clients |
| hospitals. There is a long history of prejudice | | | | gain access to chiropractic care is to encourage |
| against chiropractic by medical doctors, which is | | | | the use of Health Savings Accounts. |
| one reason that chiropractic care is not often | | | | Health Savings Accounts and Consumer Choice |
| covered by health insurance. | | | | The combination of a Health Savings Account and |
| Many research studies have shown that | | | | a High Deductible Health Insurance plan is |
| chiropractic care is beneficial and that it is more | | | | supposed to encourage individuals to become |
| cost effective in the treatment of low back pain | | | | thoughtful, wise consumers of health care. The |
| and other common musculoskeletal conditions | | | | individual is spending more of his or her own |
| than traditional Western medicine is. Chiropractic | | | | dollars on healthcare, so she will be more |
| also lowers health care costs by focusing on | | | | concerned about how those dollars are spent. |
| prevention, was well as on treatment. | | | | Health Savings Accounts give consumers more |
| It is surprising that health insurers choose not to | | | | choice in how their healthcare dollars are spent. |
| cover treatment that is as beneficial and cost | | | | Money in the HSA must be spent on approved |
| effective as chiropractic care is. Studies have | | | | medical expenses, but there are really very few |
| continually shown that individuals who seek the | | | | restrictions on what kind of healthcare you |
| care of a chiropractor on a regular basis are | | | | choose. More and more chiropractic patients are |
| healthier and, generally, spend less on health care | | | | discovering that having an HSA is saving them |
| than those who do not. | | | | money on their medical expenses. |
| Chiropractic Care and Consumers | | | | Traditional health insurance has gatekeepers and |
| What is not surprising is that consumers are wise | | | | controls. Even when chiropractic care is covered |
| enough to see the advantages of chiropractic | | | | (not typical on individual plans), the individual |
| care. Many people prefer to see a chiropractor | | | | requesting chiropractic care may be required to |
| simply because they see tangible benefits from | | | | go see their family physician (or gatekeeper) and |
| the care they receive. Many others are | | | | get a referral. Not all medical doctors will refer to |
| disillusioned with traditional Western medicine and | | | | chiropractors. If chiropractic care is covered on |
| the healthcare system, and they look for | | | | the health insurance plan, and if you can get a |
| alternatives such as chiropractic care. | | | | referral (which amounts to permission to see the |
| It is clear, both from patient testimonies and from | | | | chiropractor), there may be limits to the number |
| clinical research that consumers benefit from | | | | and types of treatments you can receive. |
| chiropractic care. Unfortunately, they may have | | | | Using a Health Savings Account to pay for |
| difficulty affording chiropractic care because it's | | | | chiropractic care gives you, the consumer, more |
| often excluded from healthcare insurance policies. | | | | choice. You can choose what type of medical |
| Health Savings Accounts can help consumers | | | | treatment to get, where you will get that |
| afford chiropractic care, even when it is excluded | | | | treatment, and how many treatments you will |
| from their health insurance policy. They can pay | | | | get. You can spend HSA dollars on preventive |
| for chiropractic care and other alternative | | | | care as well, and actually have the government |
| medicine with pre-tax dollars by using a Health | | | | give you a tax deduction for keeping your family |
| Savings Account. | | | | well. |
| Many chiropractors keep their costs as low as | | | | |