Chiropractic care has plenty of benefits. It aligns the body and relieves pain allowing the body to heal itself naturally. Note, however, that it is not a one-stop-shop or a one-size-fits-all kind of thing.
Chiropractic care is good for some injuries and pain, but in some cases, chiropractic care can even aggravate your condition. So if you happen to have suffered injuries from a car accident, don’t go immediately to your chiropractor. Seek medical attention from a physician first.
Injuries that Require Additional Treatment
Injuries vary depending on the accident. In some cases, there are only cuts and bruises. In other cases, you would need chiropractic care, but here are some examples that cannot be resolved by chiropractic care alone:
- Internal injuries
For internal injuries such as internal bleeding, or intense and unbearable back pain, and whiplash chiropractic care is clearly not enough. A proper diagnosis from doctors and testing is necessary because surgery may be needed.
- Brain injuries
Of course, obviously, for brain injuries are not something that can be physically felt. It can only be determined only thorough analysis by the doctor, and if a medical diagnosis is not made, brain injuries may get worse.
- Spinal cord injuries
This requires examination from a neurologist because spinal cord injuries will affect sensory or movement. It does not involve misalignments in the body but actual internal injury within the body that would affect a person’s motion or physical activity. This isn’t to say, however, that chiropractic care is not enough. In some cases, there are plenty of studies that show that chiropractic care is highly beneficial for persons who have suffered whiplash and other soft tissue injuries from car accidents. It is just important to avail only of treatments duly required by your doctor for purposes of claiming your benefits.
Problem with Chiropractic Care in No Fault Injuries
Michigan has a No Fault Statute. This means that persons who suffered injuries in auto-related accidents are guaranteed to receive insurance benefits regardless of fault. This excludes the right of the injured person to seek liability from the driver at fault. You can, therefore, seek immediate medical care with the expectation that your insurance will be covering the expenses.
However, for chiropractic care in Michigan, there seems to be a problem with insurance companies covering up this type of expense. Because of the amendment of the No Fault Statute in 2010, reimbursement from chiropractic care has become a little difficult. According to this amendment, reimbursement for chiropractic care expenses by insurance companies for no fault injuries is not required if the care provided is not within the definition of chiropractic care under the old public health code of 1992.
This means that if you have taken yourself to a chiropractor for auto accident injuries and new techniques were introduced in order to facilitate your speedy recovery, it may be a battle to receive full recovery with your insurance company on chiropractic care expenses.
In these cases, what No Fault insurance companies do to avoid full payment of medical bills is to raise this amendment, causing you to turn to the at-fault driver’s insurance provider to claim reimbursement from them.
As such, many inexperienced lawyers would tell you never to get chiropractic care even though you need it thinking that you may not get full benefits. However, this advice is not sound.
Chiropractic Care and Insurance Benefits
Though some insurance lawyers have won in auto accident cases by attacking chiropractic care, it should not hinder you from getting that care, especially if it is ordered by your doctor. The amendment is not sought to avoid chiropractic care altogether, but possibly, to hinder persons from claiming reimbursement for expenses of chiropractic care even though it is not advised by a doctor.
The solution to this, therefore, is simple. To win against insurance companies and claim full coverage for your chiropractic care, you must be able to fully prove that this expense is reasonably necessary for your recovery. Reasonably necessary medical expenses are covered by No Fault insurance companies under the Michigan Law. Therefore, if chiropractic treatment required by your doctor keep a copy of your medical reports, your results from chiropractic treatment and send a compilation of it to your provider. In this way, you can rightfully claim all first party benefits though undergoing chiropractic care.
Contact a Michigan Lawyer to Help Claim Your Chiropractic Care Benefits
Having problems with availing full chiropractic care benefits from your insurance? Contact The Clark Law Office today!
The Clark Law Office has served personal injury and auto accident clients for more than 30 years. We know the innovation that goes into chiropractic care and we understand how it can improve our clients’ wellbeing. Let our expertise on Michigan Law and court experience protect you and help you get the proper medical benefits that you deserve. Contact our Lansing car accident attorneys for a free consultation today at (517) 347-6900
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