One of the most common questions we get from car accident patients in Wheat Ridge is some version of this:
“Wait — you’re cash-based? Does that mean my car insurance won’t cover my treatment?”
It’s a fair question. And the answer is more straightforward than most people expect.
Short version: being a cash-based practice doesn’t mean you pay out of pocket and walk away. It means we don’t bill your health insurance directly. For car accident cases, the path to reimbursement is typically through your auto insurance — and that works differently than most people realize.
How Auto Insurance Pays for Chiropractic Care in Colorado
Colorado requires all drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage as part of their auto insurance policy. PIP is specifically designed to cover medical expenses — including chiropractic care — resulting from a car accident, regardless of who was at fault.
This means that even if the other driver caused the accident, your own PIP coverage kicks in first to pay for your treatment. It doesn’t go through your health insurance. It goes through your auto policy.
Minimum PIP coverage in Colorado is $5,000, though many policies carry more. Most soft tissue injury cases from car accidents in Wheat Ridge are resolved well within that range.
How It Works With a Cash-Based Practice
At Lakeside Spine and Injury Center, here’s how the process typically works for accident patients:
- You come in for your evaluation. We collect your auto insurance information, not your health insurance card.
- After each visit, we provide you with an itemized receipt (called a superbill) that documents exactly what was done and what it cost.
- You submit that to your auto insurance carrier for reimbursement through your PIP coverage — or in many cases, your attorney handles this as part of the claim.
- If your case settles, your treatment costs are typically recovered as part of the settlement.
This process is well-established and widely used throughout Colorado. Your attorney — if you have one — will be familiar with it.
What If You Don’t Have an Attorney?
If the accident was caused by another driver and your injuries are significant, consulting with a personal injury attorney is often worth doing — even just for an initial conversation. Many PI attorneys in the Wheat Ridge and Denver area work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless they recover money for you.
What About Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)?
MedPay is an optional add-on to your auto policy that some Colorado drivers carry in addition to PIP. It provides a separate pool of money for medical expenses after an accident and can be used alongside PIP.
If you have MedPay, it can cover your chiropractic treatment at Lakeside either in addition to or instead of PIP, depending on your policy structure. We can help you figure out which applies.
Why We Choose to Operate as a Cash-Based Practice
This isn’t about making your life harder. It’s about making your care better.
When a practice bills through insurance — including auto insurance directly — the care can become shaped by what the carrier will approve rather than what the patient actually needs. Visit lengths get cut. Documentation gets templated. Decisions get made by adjusters instead of doctors.
Operating cash-based means Dr. Allen can spend as long as your evaluation requires. He can document thoroughly, treat specifically, and make clinical decisions based entirely on what your body needs — not what an insurance algorithm will reimburse.
For car accident patients, that distinction often makes a meaningful difference in both recovery outcomes and the quality of the documentation that supports your case.
Still Have Questions? Let’s Talk.
We know the billing and insurance side of a car accident can be confusing — especially when you’re already dealing with pain, stress, and paperwork. We’ve helped many Wheat Ridge patients navigate this and we’re happy to walk you through your specific situation before you even book an appointment.
Call or email us and we’ll answer your questions, explain how the process works, and help you understand what coverage you likely have available.
📞 Need to get evaluated?
Call Lakeside Spine and Injury Center at (303) 351-0744 or book your free 30-minute evaluation at lakesidespineandinjury.com
Same-day and next-day appointments available.
