Does Car Insurance Cover Chiropractic Care in Colorado?
In most cases, yes. Here is how MedPay, the other driver’s insurance and attorneys fit together after a crash, in plain English.
In most cases, yes. Colorado car insurance policies include at least $5,000 of medical payments coverage, called MedPay, unless you turned it down in writing, and it pays for chiropractic care after a crash no matter who caused it. If you were hurt in a car accident in Loveland, MedPay is usually the first place we look, and we bill it for you.
Insurance after a wreck gets confusing fast. There is your policy, the other driver’s policy, your health insurance, maybe an attorney, and a stack of mail you didn’t ask for. Here’s the deal, in plain English.
MedPay: The Coverage Most People Forget They Have
MedPay is part of your own auto policy. Colorado law requires insurers to include at least $5,000 of it unless the policyholder rejects it in writing, and you can carry more than the minimum if you choose. It covers you and the passengers riding in your car, whether you caused the accident or not.
Three things make MedPay the easiest way to pay for care after a crash. It pays before your health insurance. There is no deductible and no network to worry about. And nobody has to decide who was at fault first.
At Aligned and Well Chiropractic we bill MedPay directly. It’s my favorite way to handle an auto case for one simple reason: it pays promptly. That means you can focus on getting better instead of on a pile of bills.
Will Using MedPay Raise My Insurance?
This is the worry that keeps a lot of people from using coverage they’ve been paying for. Here is what Colorado law says: your insurer can’t raise your premium because of an accident that wasn’t your fault (C.R.S. 10-4-628). Insurers can still raise rates across the board, but not because of that accident.
If you did cause the accident, your rate can change because of the accident itself, so ask your agent how your company handles it. Either way, you’ve already paid for MedPay. It’s there to be used.
What If the Other Driver Was at Fault?
Colorado is an at-fault state. If the other driver caused the crash, their bodily injury liability insurance is responsible for your injuries, up to their policy limits. The state minimum is only $25,000 per person. The catch is timing. That insurer usually doesn’t pay bills as they come in. It pays through a claim or a settlement, often after your treatment is finished.
So what happens in the meantime? If you have MedPay, it pays first. If you don’t, or it runs out, there are other ways to handle it: your health insurance, or working with your attorney on a lien, which means the bill is paid out of the settlement at the end. We work with attorneys and liens too. We do them all. I prefer MedPay, but I’m not going to argue either way. We’ll use whatever fits your situation.
What If the Other Driver Had No Insurance?
That is what uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, UM/UIM, is for. Colorado insurers have to offer it, and unless you turned it down, it can step in when the driver who hit you has no insurance or not enough of it. Your health insurance is the backup.
One Exception: Motorcycles
Colorado’s MedPay requirement applies to car policies, not motorcycle policies. Some riders carry medical payments coverage anyway and some don’t. If you ride, check your policy before riding season, not after a crash. Our motorcycle accident page covers the rest.
Seeing a Car Accident Chiropractor in Loveland: What to Bring
Keep it simple. Bring your claim number, plus the adjuster’s name and phone number or the claims phone number for your insurance company. If you don’t have a claim number yet, bring your policy number and we can track it down from there. You don’t need the police report. If you have an attorney, bring their name and number so we can work with their office.
From there, the visit starts the way it does for anyone: a conversation about what happened, a thorough exam, and a plain explanation of what we found. Our car accident injury care page walks through what we look for, from whiplash to the mid-back strain a seat belt can leave behind.
Don’t Let the Paperwork Make You Wait
The worst thing insurance confusion does is make people put off getting checked. Say you get rear-ended at a light on Eisenhower. You feel shaken but okay, so you figure you’ll sort out the insurance first. Meanwhile symptoms after a crash often show up days later, and a long gap between the accident and your first exam can make a claim harder. Get examined in the first week or two, and let us help sort out who pays.
One note: this is general information, not legal advice. Every policy is different, and for legal questions about your claim, talk to an attorney. For your neck and back, come see us. Call (970) 800-3486 and tell us you were in an accident. We’ll take it from there.
Related Care at Aligned and Well
- Car Accident Injury Chiropractor in Loveland, CO
- Whiplash Injury Treatment in Loveland, CO
- Motorcycle Accident Chiropractor in Loveland, CO
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Common Questions
Questions Patients Ask Us
Will using MedPay raise my car insurance in Colorado?
Colorado law says an insurer can't raise your premium because of an accident that wasn't your fault (C.R.S. 10-4-628). If you caused the accident, your rate can change because of the accident itself, so ask your agent how your company handles it.
Does MedPay cover chiropractic care in Colorado?
Yes. MedPay on a Colorado auto policy covers chiropractic treatment after a crash, no matter who was at fault. Policies include at least $5,000 unless the policyholder rejected it in writing. Aligned and Well Chiropractic bills MedPay directly.
What should I bring to a chiropractor after a car accident?
Your claim number and the adjuster's name and phone number, or your insurance company's claims phone number. If you don't have a claim number yet, your policy number works. A police report isn't necessary.
Have a different question? Read the full list of patient questions or call us at (970) 800-3486.
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