– The government proposes to discontinue the national insurance’s coverage of expenses for treatment by chiropractors from 1 January 2025. The benefit makes up a very small part of the total cost of treatment by chiropractors, and can be assumed to have little impact on patients’ use of chiropractors, the government writes in its budget proposal for 2025.
Today’s rates are NOK 110 at the start of a treatment plan, and then NOK 47 each time.
The government will save NOK 141 million from the cut in 2025, according to the proposal.
At the same time, the government is allocating NOK 11 million to a fund for chiropractors to continue and further their education.
The chiropractor association: – Deeply concerned
Chairman Anne Marie Selboskar Even in the Norwegian Chiropractor Association believes that the cut hits those who struggle the most and earn the least.
– I am deeply concerned that this proposal will lead to even more people opting out of treatment, especially those who cannot afford it. It is clearly antisocial, she says.
Also in this year’s budget, the government cut support for chiropractic treatment, before it is now proposed to be removed.
– We have already seen the consequences of the cut that came last year, namely that fewer people take the advice to see a chiropractor. As a result, the “strugglers” among us often end up with musculoskeletal disorders that are not treated, and many end up out of working life – either for longer periods or permanently, says the chairman.
Frp: – Tax on illness
FRP’s health policy spokesperson, Bård Hoksrud, also reacts to the cut.
– This is in practice a tax on illness, and goes particularly beyond those who have the least at a time when other costs have skyrocketed. Musculoskeletal disorders largely affect women, the elderly and people with a low level of education. With this cut, the government is reinforcing social health inequality, completely contrary to what they have promised, he says.
#Reactions #chiropractor #cuts #antisocial
Analysis: A Shift in Insurance Coverage for Chiropractic Care
As I read the news about the government’s proposal to discontinue national insurance coverage for expenses related to treatment by chiropractors from January 1, 2025, I couldn’t help but think about the impact this will have on individuals seeking chiropractic care. In contrast to the trend observed in the United States, where most insurance companies cover chiropractic care to some degree [[3]], the government’s proposal seems to be moving in the opposite direction.
According to various sources, a significant percentage of private policies in the US cover chiropractic care, with some estimates suggesting that about 87% of private policies include this benefit [[3]]. Furthermore, many wellness centers and chiropractic clinics emphasize that there is a good chance that insurance covers chiropractic care [[1]], and most insurance companies require a co-payment for these services [[2]].
Given these facts, the government’s proposal to discontinue national insurance coverage for chiropractic expenses may lead to a significant increase in out-of-pocket costs for individuals seeking this type of care. While the benefit may only make up a small part of the total cost of treatment by a chiropractor, its removal could still cause a financial burden for those who rely on chiropractic care for their well-being.
As this proposal is set to take effect from January 1, 2025, individuals who currently benefit from this coverage may need to reconsider their healthcare options or find alternative ways to cover the expenses. It will be interesting to see how this decision unfolds and how it will affect the chiropractic care industry as a whole.
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