Is chiropractic care covered by insurance?

A chiropractor is not covered by the basic health insurance in the Netherlands, but through supplemental insurance you can in many cases get a portion of the costs reimbursed. How much you get reimbursed depends on the type of supplemental insurance you have taken out and which health insurer you are with. In this article we answer the most frequently asked questions about reimbursement, costs, and how you can quickly check what your policy covers.

Is chiropractic care covered by basic health insurance?

Chiropractic care is not covered by basic health insurance in the Netherlands. The basic insurance only covers care that has been legally established as necessary medical care, and chiropractic care is currently not included in that. This means that you always have to pay the costs of a chiropractic treatment yourself, unless you have supplemental insurance that does cover it.

This applies to all chiropractic treatments, regardless of the technique or the severity of your complaint. Even if a general practitioner refers you to a chiropractor, this does not change the reimbursement from the basic insurance. Chiropractic care is considered alternative or complementary care in the Netherlands, just like osteopathy and acupuncture.

Which supplemental insurance policies cover a chiropractor?

Many Dutch health insurers reimburse chiropractic care through supplemental insurance, but the level of reimbursement varies greatly per policy. In general: the more comprehensive the supplemental insurance, the higher the reimbursement for alternative medicine such as chiropractic care.

Most insurers use a category such as “alternative medicine” or “complementary care” in which chiropractic care is included. Think of supplemental packages such as:

• Basic supplemental: Often limited or no reimbursement for chiropractic care
• Extended supplemental: Partial reimbursement, often between 50 and 250 euros per year
• Most comprehensive package: Higher reimbursements, sometimes up to 500 euros or more per year

Well-known insurers such as CZ, Zilveren Kruis, VGZ and Menzis offer supplemental packages that reimburse chiropractic care, but the conditions and amounts vary per year and per policy. It is wise to check annually whether the reimbursement has changed, especially around the switching season in November and December.

How much do health insurers reimburse on average per treatment?

Health insurers do not reimburse chiropractic care per treatment, but through an annual maximum amount for alternative medicine as a whole. That budget is therefore also shared with other treatments in that category, such as acupuncture or osteopathy. The annual maximum amount averages between 100 and 400 euros, depending on your supplemental insurance.

In practice, this means that you get a portion of the treatments reimbursed and pay the rest yourself. If a chiropractic treatment costs on average between 50 and 90 euros, a reimbursement of 200 euros per year covers roughly two to four treatments. It is therefore worthwhile to carefully plan how many treatments you expect to need and whether your supplemental insurance offers sufficient room for that.

How do you check whether your insurance covers chiropractic care?

You can most quickly check whether your insurance covers chiropractic care by logging in to the My Environment section of your health insurer and viewing the policy conditions of your supplemental insurance. Search there for terms such as “chiropractic”, “alternative medicine” or “complementary care”.

Can’t figure it out? Then follow these steps:

1. Log in to the website or app of your health insurer
2. Go to your policy or insurance overview
3. Search the policy conditions for “chiropractic” or “alternative medicine”
4. Check the maximum reimbursement amount per year and any applicable conditions
5. Call customer service if the information is unclear

Also pay attention to any conditions that insurers impose. Some insurers require that the chiropractor is affiliated with a recognized professional association, such as the Nederlandse Chiropractoren Associatie (NCA) or the Dutch Chiropractic Association (DCA). Check this in advance to prevent a treatment from not being reimbursed afterwards.

Can you visit a chiropractor without a referral?

Yes, you can visit a chiropractor without a referral from a general practitioner. In the Netherlands, a chiropractor is a primary care provider, which means you can make an appointment directly without the involvement of a doctor. This makes chiropractic care easily accessible, even for acute complaints.

The absence of a referral also has no influence on any reimbursement from your supplemental insurance. Health insurers generally do not impose a referral requirement for chiropractic care. The only condition that some insurers apply is that the chiropractor is registered with a recognized professional association.

What are the costs of a chiropractic treatment without reimbursement?

Without reimbursement, you typically pay between 50 and 100 euros per session for a chiropractic treatment in the Netherlands. An intake or first consultation, which also involves an extensive medical history, is often slightly more expensive than a follow-up treatment. The exact rates differ per practice and per type of treatment.

Specialized techniques such as the Y-Strap treatment or CFR (Cranial Facial Release) may have different rates, as these methods require additional training and certification. It is always wise to request the rates in advance from the practice of your choice, so you are not faced with any surprises.

Also keep in mind that for chronic complaints or a treatment trajectory, multiple sessions may be needed. Some practices offer treatment packages that make each session cheaper than individual appointments.

How Ruggensteun helps you with chiropractic care and reimbursement

At our practice, with locations in Eindhoven and Valkenswaard, you can without a referral from a general practitioner come directly for a chiropractic treatment. We work transparently about our rates and are happy to help you if you have questions about reimbursements through your supplemental insurance.

What we offer:

• Direct accessibility: no referral needed, even for acute complaints
• Specialized treatments, including the certified Y-Strap technique, one of the few practices in the Netherlands with this certification
• Treatments for all ages, from babies and children to the elderly and athletes
• Free parking at both locations
• Quick availability of appointments, also for urgent cases

Would you like to know what we can do for you, or do you have a question about the costs? feel free to contact us, or make an appointment directly via our website. We are happy to help you on your way to less pain and more freedom of movement.