Welcome to part three of our series of frequently asked questions about going to the chiropractor. Today we’re covering another important question: getting a referral from your doctor to see a chiropractor.

Do I need a referral from my doctor to visit a chiropractor?

In general, the answer is no–you don’t need a referral to see a chiropractor. However. if you’re planning on using your insurance to pay for your visit, you should check your benefits first. Your insurance may require that you get a referral from your doctor before getting treatment.

Although many insurances cover chiropractic care, many others do not. It’s normal for chiropractors to offer a cash price option to those who don’t have insurance to cover the appointment. If you are a cash pay patient, you do not usually need a referral from your doctor to go to the chiropractor. However, if you’ve gone to your doctor due to a complaint and they suggest that you go to a chiropractor for treatment, it can be very helpful to allow the chiropractor access to any x-rays, medical notes and other pertinent information regarding your care using a records release form. Sharing this information will streamline the treatment process and save you time.

To start this process, talk to both your doctor and chiropractor. Ask for a medical release form to give your chiropractor access to your medical records. You can choose to give them access to all your records, or just the ones that pertain to the specific injury you’d like to see them for.