Can Chiropractors Opt Out of Medicare?

No. Medical doctors can choose to opt out, but Chiropractors cannot.

If a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic sees a patient who has Medicare, the Chiropractor must, by law, report it to Medicare. Medicare covers Chiropractic treatment to the spine, and patients with Medicare insurance have the right to have their Medicare pay for their spinal treatment. 

If your Chiropractor sees Medicare patients but does not accept assignment (accept payment from Medicare), you must pay at the time of service, your Chiropractor then sends the report of her / his services and charges to Medicare, and you will be reimbursed directly from Medicare. 

Medicare will process the statement of services and charges received from your Chiropractor, and then send the statement on to your secondary or supplemental carrier. Whatever amount your supplemental insurance will pay, they will also send the reimbursement directly to you.

Is My Foot Feeling Numb Due to a Disc in My Spine?

Possibly. But an injured or degenerated spinal disc is just one of several prime suspects that can result in numbness in the foot or feet. Irritation of the sciatic nerve in your buttock, often caused by too much sitting or sitting on hard surfaces, is also on the list. There can also be local impingement of nerves in the lower extremity, and diabetes is also a suspect. Questions about your health history, your daily activities, your injuries, and an exam will help your doctor narrow down the list. Then further diagnostic tests, if needed, can be done to confirm.