Flexible Spending Accounts Can Pay for Chiropractic Services

News provided by

Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

Oct 02, 2018, 10:11 ET

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- It's a little known fact that consumers can use flexible spending accounts (FSAs) to pay for chiropractic care, according to the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP). While many employees are aware of FSAs, the not-for-profit organization notes that not everyone is knowledgeable about what items are eligible.

FSAs, which are offered by 63 percent of employers today, are tax-advantaged benefit programs that allow employees to use pre-tax money to pay for eligible healthcare expenses not covered by medical insurance, such as copays, deductibles and prescription drug, dental, vision and chiropractic care costs.

"During open enrollment, I put money aside in my FSA specifically for chiropractic care," said Marika Lemmons, an HR manager in San Diego who has turned to chiropractic care for several years. "By doing so, I enjoy both the financial and physical wellness benefits of being free from chronic low back pain."

Another tax-advantaged program that can be used to pay for chiropractic care is the health savings account (HSA). HSAs are similar to FSAs except that any unspent money in an HSA rolls over and accumulates from year to year. Today, HSAs are offered by 56 percent of employers -- an increase of 11 percent in the past five years.

Spend down your FSA
In the coming months, many U.S. employees will find themselves scrambling to use up their remaining benefits balance, or risk forfeiting leftover FSA funds. Since health issues addressed by chiropractic care tend to be the most prevalent chronic complaints among American adults, the F4CP is reminding consumers to use their tax-free money for a drug-free approach to their health, especially for neck and back pain.

Chiropractic has demonstrated positive effects for a variety of painful conditions. It can increase range of motion, decrease muscle spasms and reduce musculoskeletal pain and headache, including migraines.

Rising healthcare costs have been known to deter patients from seeking care they need. "Employees whose companies offer FSAs can use this valuable benefit to offset out-of-pocket healthcare costs," said Sherry McAllister, DC, executive vice president, F4CP. "Aggressive drug-based pain management efforts that began in the 1990s have led to an epidemic of prescriptions for opioid pain medications in the U.S, with more than 650,000 opioid prescriptions dispensed per day. A major study found that people who receive chiropractic care are much less likely to fill a prescription for opioids and are therefore much less likely to become addicted to them."

The F4CP notes that by using FSAs to pay for healthcare not covered or fully covered by insurance, consumers can save an average of 20 to 30 percent of the cost. The F4CP urges consumers to ask their employers if they offer an FSA. If so, they should sign up for a standard FSA that covers all eligible medical expenses, including care provided by a doctor of chiropractic. Limited-purpose FSAs can be used only for vision and dental expenses, and are only available to employees who are enrolled in a high deductible health plan, as well as an HSA.

About Foundation for Chiropractic Progress and Foundation for Chiropractic Education
A not-for-profit organization, Foundation for Chiropractic Education (501c3) and the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (501c6) provide information and education regarding the value of chiropractic care and its role in drug-free pain management. Visit http://www.f4cp.org; call 866-901-F4CP (3427). Social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube.

Media contact:
Marcia Rhodes, Amendola Communications for F4CP
[email protected]; 480.664.8412 ext. 15

SOURCE Foundation for Chiropractic Progress