Most people ringing a chiropractor on the Sunshine Coast ask the same two questions: what will it cost, and how much will I get back? The fee itself varies from clinic to clinic, but the ways of paying for it are the same across the Coast. Here is how each one works.
Paying privately
You do not need a referral or health insurance to see a chiropractor. You pay the consultation fee on the day. The first visit costs more than a follow-up because it is longer and includes the assessment. For typical Australian price ranges, see how much a chiropractor costs in Australia. Sunshine Coast clinics generally sit in the middle of those ranges. Ask for the first-visit and follow-up fee when you book, and whether concession, student or family rates apply.
Private health insurance and HICAPS
If your extras cover includes chiropractic, you can claim part of each visit. With HICAPS the claim is made at the desk by swiping your fund card, and you pay only the gap. The rebate depends on your fund, your level of cover and your annual limit, so the quickest way to get an exact figure is to call your fund and quote the item for an initial or standard chiropractic consultation. We are a preferred provider for several major funds, including Bupa, Medibank, AHM, HCF and NIB, which can mean a higher rebate. Details are on our payment options page.
Medicare: care plans and bulk billing
Medicare does not cover chiropractic for most visits. The exception is a Chronic Disease Management plan from your GP, which many people still call an EPC. If you have had a condition for six months or more, your GP can refer you for up to five allied health visits per calendar year. Those five visits are shared across all allied health providers, not five for each.
Clinics handle these visits differently. Some charge their normal fee and you claim the Medicare rebate back, leaving a gap. We bulk bill eligible care plan visits for both chiropractic and physiotherapy at both clinics, so there is nothing to pay on the day. The full process, including what to say to your GP, is on our bulk billing chiropractor page.
Need to see someone on the Sunshine Coast?
Our chiropractors and physiotherapists consult in Mooloolaba and Nambour six days a week — same-day appointments are often available.
DVA, WorkCover and NDIS
Veterans with a DVA card, workers with an accepted WorkCover Queensland claim and NDIS participants can all have care funded outside the options above. Each scheme has its own paperwork, which we explain in DVA and WorkCover chiropractic on the Sunshine Coast and on our NDIS page.
Questions to ask any clinic before you book
- What is the fee for the first visit and for a standard follow-up?
- Is an X-ray charged separately if one is needed?
- Do you have HICAPS, and are you a preferred provider for my fund?
- Do you bulk bill care plan visits, or is there a gap?
- Will I be asked to prepay for a block of visits? (You should not need to.)
What to do next
Call us on (07) 5478 2333 for Mooloolaba or (07) 5441 4768 for Nambour and we will quote current fees and check your rebate options before you come in. You can also book online.
