BUYER BEWARE of the post-visit (and absolutely insane) money grab. Dropped $350 in just two visits... left with a proposal care plan for 3 months that would cost me $3,500.
I've nothing major going on - just some middle back pain that I need to do some exercises for to beef up my posture.
I've a high-deductible insurance plan that allows for 4 Chiropractic visits a year, but evidently these don't count.
Now, to be fair, I knew I'd have to get an X-ray the first visit, which may cost me more. And the Doctor Bixel seemed friendly enough, good "bedside" manner, etc. But if you've ever gone to a "normal" chiropractic visit you know that you usually pay one fee, and they proceed to do the regular adjustments which take a total of about 6 minutes:
1. Lay on your stomach - a couple mid back cracks
2. Lay on your side - they rotate your hips/shoulders (maybe you feel a pop, maybe not)
3. Lay on your back - they'll tug each leg/foot (maybe you'll feel a hip pop, maybe not)
4. Adjust your neck - (always a payoff for me)
and you're out.
Now imagine all of this happening (all the while he's just chatting with you telling you what to do next) except when you went out 6 minutes later to ring up you find that the exam is one thing and EVERY "extremity adjusted" aside from that (so basically, every step) is an additional $35 or so. So, unless you have the most BOUGIE insurance plans, or just money to burn, you've got a surprise waiting for you at checkout.
SO mine looked more like this:
0. Exam - $87.75
1. Lay on your stomach (thoracic) - $30.62
a. While you were there he did your lower back too - $32.42
2. Lay on your side (Lumbosacral) - $37.25
3. Lay on your back (extra spinal) - $21.29
4. Adjust your neck (cervical) - $36.94
I've included a photo of my receipt. I thought something was weird with the cost reported to me on my first visit, but as I said, I chalked it up to the x-ray. The lady told me that my next visit (for a regular adjustment) would cost me around $50 or so.
Only this time when I went in (they have you wait in these little sitting/dressing rooms that are connected to the exam room) They pulled my number from the door, but before opening it, had a chat about all the things they could charge me for. I don't think the Doc & the Admin assistant realized that they were talking loud enough about me that I could hear them. Really bad form, and I tried to tell myself that maybe I just heard wrong and I should just wait to see what happens at checkout.
But then they took me to meet with with the admin assistant where I was presented with a "care plan" that would cost me $3500 for 3 months of physical therapy/rehab to get my posture improved.
I still tried to be optimistic (as I said, everyone is very friendly as I'm a walking wallet, evidently) and just told myself that the crazy up-sell is just part of the deal.
Then I got to checkout and was asked to pay $246. (I paid $100 the first visit, which is maybe why I wasn't too scared this second one)
I could not believe it. I wasn't planning on disputing it or making a MAN KAREN type of scene. After all, fool me TWICE, right? But I was actually super sad as I feel I was TOTALLY TRICKED and taken advantage of. I paid it all (I don't want to owe them anything) so that we're square and politely told the friendly girl that no follow ups are needed as I won't be coming back.
I learned my lesson. read more