Have you ever experienced setbacks in your care because you “ran out” of chiropractic coverage through your extended health benefits before treatment was complete?

Have these setbacks affected your ability to work?

Chiropractic care plays an important role in reducing musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders like back, neck, and joint pain, but despite the evidence, many benefit plans provide only limited coverage for chiropractic.

Conditions Chiropractors Treat

Back, shoulder and neck pain.
Strains and sprains.
Headaches and whiplash.
Work and sports-related injuries.
Restricted movement in the back, shoulders, neck or limbs.
Arthritis pain including osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.

Chiropractic Treatments & Care

Education to understand conditions and ways to reduce pain and prevent injuries.
Exercises for in-clinic treatment or at-home self-care.
Soft tissue therapy which involves hands-on muscle work.
Hands-on spinal manipulation therapy to relieve pain and improve mobility.
Nutrition counselling to promote faster recovery and muscle/joint health.

BECOME A CHIRO COVERAGE ADVOCATE IN YOUR WORKPLACE

Did you know that having a conversation with your employer about your extended health benefits coverage can make a difference?

Very few employees take the time to communicate their specific needs to their employer, so a single voice can often make a significant impact.

The BCCA has created a full suite of resources to help you engage with your employer or union representative and have a productive discussion about the positive impact that increased chiropractic coverage would have on you and your health.

- Develop Your Action Plan -

While the process may vary depending on the size and structure of the organization that you work for, the information you will need and the steps you will take to prepare for the conversation will be the same.

Know Whom to Contact

In a large organization, this may be the Vice President or Director of Human Resources. In a smaller company, it is most likely the owner who makes decisions regarding health benefits coverage. If you belong to a union, your first point of contact will usually be your shop steward.

Once you have determined your contact, download the appropriate meeting request template.

Know Your EHB Plan - Know Your Request

When preparing for your conversation, the first step in the process is understanding the coverage your extended health benefits plan offers for chiropractic care and determining the change you would like to request.

Most company EHB plan providers have online portals or distribute booklets detailing the specific benefits of your company’s plan. Make sure you have access to this information so that you can develop your specific request.

Share Your Story

Attend the meeting with a simple and specific request and clearly explain the positive impact that increased chiropractic coverage would have on you and your health. Personal stories are powerful and can provide a compelling case for change.

To help organize your thoughts, download the customizable meeting flow document. It will help keep you focused and on track!

Go in With Data

Speak to concerns your employer may have – Are they concerned with injury prevention, return to work or other issues with which chiropractic care could help? Include numbers to back up your request.

If you are in a union environment, consider concerns the union may have regarding employee safety and well-being and speak to that. Bring data to support increasing coverage that addresses these issues.

You can also share research about how chiropractic care can reduce the length of time off work or how chiropractors can help with stretches and exercises that can reduce repetitive strain injuries.

The BCCA can help by providing research and data to help support your request. Click HERE to email the BCCA.

Start Your Conversation Early

In a large organization, selecting insurance plans is a lengthy process and making changes requires approval from many stakeholders, including the insurance company. In a union environment, the benefit negotiations may start during the union’s annual policy conference.

The length of time it takes to implement your request will vary by company, so be patient, persistent, and polite.

Have a Plan for ``No``

Prepare for the fact that your request may be denied. If it is, try to understand the reasoning behind the “no”.

Is it because of budget constraints? Has no one ever asked for change before? Or perhaps they don’t believe it is a need?

Find out when your company revisits extended health benefits each year (or when the union will be negotiating benefits with the employer) and plan to restate your case then.

Ask for a Seat at the Table

Does your organization have a committee that advises the benefits team, HR department, or union leadership?

If so, ask for a seat at the table. If not, suggest creating one and offering to recruit a diverse group of employees to participate.

- Tools & Resources -

The BCCA has developed a suite of tools and resources to help you be an advocate for chiropractic care in your workplace. Scroll over the hover boxes and click the download button for each resource you would like to access.

*Please Note – The templates are Word documents to allow for easy customization and may not open in a new window when you download them. Please check your “downloads” folder if they do not open immediately.

Action Plan

Your Action Plan

Set yourself up for success! Download this document that will help you develop an Action Plan.

Download Action Plan

Meeting Request Letter Template - Employer

Template Letter - Employer

If your meeting request is being sent to your employer or HR representative, download and complete this customizable letter.

Download Template Letter - Employer

Meeting Request Letter Template - Union Members

Template Letter - Union Member

If your meeting request is being sent to your union representative or shop steward, download and complete this customizable letter.

Download Template Letter - Union

Research & Data

The BCCA can help by providing research and data to help support your request.

Contact the BCCA

Meeting Flow Template

To help organize your thoughts, download the customizable meeting flow document. It will help keep you focused and on track!

Download Meeting Flow Template

Advocacy Assistance

Do you have questions? Or perhaps you would like the BCCA’s assistance with becoming a chiro coverage advocate? Let us know!

Contact the BCCA

If you have questions about becoming a chiro coverage advocate in your workplace or would like assistance from the BCCA, please reach out to us directly.

Contact the BCCA

Have you ever experienced setbacks in your care because you “ran out” of chiropractic coverage through your extended health benefits before treatment was complete?

Have these setbacks affected your ability to work?

Chiropractic care plays an important role in reducing musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders like back, neck, and joint pain, but despite the evidence, many benefit plans provide only limited coverage for chiropractic.

Conditions Chiropractors Treat

Back, shoulder and neck pain. Strains and sprains. Headaches and whiplash. Work and sports-related injuries. Restricted movement in the back, shoulders, neck or limbs. Arthritis pain including osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.

Chiropractic Treatments & Care

BECOME A CHIRO COVERAGE ADVOCATE IN YOUR WORKPLACE

Did you know that having a conversation with your employer about your extended health benefits coverage can make a difference?

Very few employees take the time to communicate their specific needs to their employer, so a single voice can often make a significant impact.

The BCCA has created a full suite of resources to help you engage with your employer or union representative and have a productive discussion about the positive impact that increased chiropractic coverage would have on you and your health.

- Develop Your Action Plan -

While the process may vary depending on the size and structure of the organization that you work for, the information you will need and the steps you will take to prepare for the conversation will be the same.

Know Whom to Contact

Know Your EHB Plan - Know Your Request

Share Your Story

Go in With Data

Start Your Conversation Early

Have a Plan for ``No``

Ask for a Seat at the Table

- Tools & Resources -

The BCCA has developed a suite of tools and resources to help you be an advocate for chiropractic care in your workplace. Scroll over the hover boxes and click the download button for each resource you would like to access.

Action Plan

Your Action Plan

Meeting Request Letter Template - Employer

Template Letter - Employer

Meeting Request Letter Template - Union Members

Template Letter - Union Member

Research & Data

Research & Data

Meeting Flow Template

Meeting Flow Template

Advocacy Assistance

Advocacy Assistance

If you have questions about becoming a chiro coverage advocate in your workplace or would like assistance from the BCCA, please reach out to us directly.

Back, shoulder and neck pain.
Strains and sprains.
Headaches and whiplash.
Work and sports-related injuries.
Restricted movement in the back, shoulders, neck or limbs.
Arthritis pain including osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.