Chiropractic, acupuncture and massage for employees: how to offer them without changing your medical plan

Employees search for a participating provider, book directly, and pay the provider the member price at the time of their visit. The employer's medical plan does not change, and the voluntary model typically needs no direct employer funding.

These are the services employees often look for on their own and pay for out of pocket, because many medical plans limit how many visits they allow, require a referral, or leave them out. Beyond Med gives those services a clear place in your benefits.

Key takeaways

• Beyond Med's participating providers include chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, physical therapists and recovery services such as cryotherapy, red-light and float therapy. Availability varies by location.
• Members pay the provider directly at the member price. There are no claims and nothing to reimburse.
• Beyond Med does not replace your medical plan. It sits alongside it for care employees already seek outside the plan.
• The membership can be voluntary, typically with no direct employer funding, or employer-sponsored. Membership pricing is quoted per group.
• If employees want a service or a provider that is not nearby, Beyond Med can work to recruit providers in that specialty and area.

What services can employees use?

Through participating providers, members can find services in the pain relief and recovery category, including:

Which providers participate depends on where your employees live, and the network changes over time. Before you decide, Beyond Med can review your employee locations against current participating providers.

Providers make their own clinical decisions. Beyond Med does not recommend a treatment or say that one service can replace care a doctor has prescribed.

How does it work alongside our existing medical plan?

Beyond Med does not change or replace your medical plan. It works in the space around it:

• The employee finds a provider. They search Beyond Med by service and location, or ask the Concierge Team for help.
• They confirm the member price with the provider or the Concierge Team before booking.
• They book directly with the provider and say they are a Beyond Med member.
• The provider verifies membership with the digital membership card or Beyond Med's eligibility check.
• The employee pays the provider the member price. There is no claim and no reimbursement.

Beyond Med is not insurance. Employees keep their medical plan for medical needs, emergencies and hospital care.

What does it cost the employer?

The Beyond Med membership can be voluntary, where employees pay and there is typically no direct employer funding, or employer-sponsored, where the employer pays. Membership pricing is quoted per group, based on size and location.

Why offer these services through one platform?

Employees who want chiropractic care this month may want acupuncture, physical therapy or a massage next. Buying a separate program for each means more contracts, more enrollment material and more for HR to manage. One platform gives employees a single place to search across these services and many others, with a person to call when they need help.

What about LASIK and other elective care?

This page is about pain relief and recovery services. Beyond Med does not currently include dental services. For elective care such as LASIK, dermatology and vein services, see our page on elective and cosmetic care.

Key terms

• Participating provider: an independent practice that agrees to offer a member price on selected services.
• Member price: the price a participating provider has agreed to offer Beyond Med members for a participating service.
• Concierge Team: Beyond Med's member support team, who help members find providers, confirm pricing and take the next step.
• Voluntary model: employees choose to enroll and pay, usually through payroll deduction, and the employer typically does not fund it directly.

Frequently asked questions

Can we offer chiropractic and acupuncture without changing our medical plan?

Yes. Beyond Med sits alongside your existing benefits. Employees use participating chiropractors and acupuncturists at member prices and pay the provider directly, with no change to your medical plan.

Do employees need a referral?

Beyond Med does not generally require a referral. A provider may have its own clinical or scheduling requirements, so employees should confirm with the provider.

Who pays the chiropractor or massage therapist?

The employee pays the provider directly, at the member price, at the time of service. Beyond Med does not process claims or reimburse employees.

Is there a participating provider near our employees?

It depends on where they live. Beyond Med can review your employee locations against current participating providers before you decide, and can work to recruit providers where access is thin.

Does this cost the company anything?

The Beyond Med membership can be voluntary, where employees pay and there is typically no direct employer funding, or employer-sponsored, where the employer pays. Membership pricing is quoted per group, based on size and location.

Is Beyond Med insurance?

No. Beyond Med is not insurance and does not replace a medical plan. Members pay participating providers directly at the member price.

Next step

To see which participating providers are near your employees, start on the For Employers page and book a demo. For how funding works, see what Beyond Med costs an employer.