Cigna in-network
chiropractor
in San Diego
Dr. Jordan Loewenstein accepts Cigna PPO, Open Access Plus, and most Cigna employer plans. We verify your benefits, confirm your copay, and handle all billing — before your first visit.
How to use your
Cigna coverage here
Most Cigna members can book directly — no prior authorization needed for the first few visits. Here's exactly what to expect from your first call to your first adjustment.
Cigna plan
breakdown
Cigna chiropractic benefits vary significantly by plan type. The single most important question is whether you have PPO/OAP or HMO — because that determines whether you need a referral before booking.
Cigna HMO in California (offered by Cigna HealthCare of California, Inc.) requires both a PCP referral and that the referral stay within your assigned medical group network. Even if Dr. Loewenstein is in the Cigna HMO network, your referral may need to be coordinated through your specific medical group. Call us before booking — we'll help you navigate this step.
Cigna LocalPlus is a limited geographic network. Being in Cigna's broader OAP network does not automatically mean in-network for LocalPlus. Similarly, Cigna Connect (Covered California EPO) has zero out-of-network coverage. If your ID card says LocalPlus or Connect, please call us to confirm before your visit — we'll verify your specific plan directly with Cigna.
Cigna pays for one thing:
the spinal adjustment
Here's something most patients don't know — and that most chiropractor websites don't explain clearly. Understanding how Cigna routes its chiropractic benefit will save you confusion on your EOB.
Cigna administers its chiropractic benefit through American Specialty Health (ASH) — a third-party network that manages chiropractic and specialty care separately from your regular Cigna medical plan. When you see a chiropractor, ASH is the entity that processes and pays the claim — not Cigna directly.
What ASH reimburses: spinal manipulation (the adjustment) only. That's it. ASH does not separately reimburse for e-stim, ART, soft tissue work, traction, or moist heat — even if Cigna's broader medical policy might otherwise cover those services through a physical therapist or medical provider.
This means your in-network copay applies to the spinal adjustment. The spinal adjustment is the covered service Cigna reimburses through ASH.
Common Cigna
employers in San Diego
These employers are known to offer Cigna plans in the San Diego area. If you work for one of them, your chiropractic benefit likely applies here — though always verify your specific plan year.
From "maybe"
to booked
Here's what every Cigna patient needs answered before they book — and how Dr. Loewenstein's practice addresses each one.
What to say
when you call us
Not sure what information you need? Here's exactly what helps us verify your Cigna benefits quickly — usually within one business day.
1. Your Cigna ID card (front and back)
2. The plan name on your card (PPO, OAP, HMO, LocalPlus, Connect)
3. Your date of birth and member ID
4. The name of your employer (if through employer insurance)
That's it. We call Cigna, verify your chiropractic benefit, confirm your copay and visit limit — and send you a summary before your appointment.
Your in-network copay amount · Whether your deductible applies · Your annual visit limit and visits remaining · Whether prior authorization is needed · Any HMO referral guidance if applicable
What we actually
tell patients
These are the exact messages Dr. Loewenstein's practice uses with Cigna patients — plain language, no surprises.
Cigna chiropractic
questions answered
The most common questions patients ask before their first Cigna chiropractic visit — answered directly.
Yes. Chiropractic is covered as a rehabilitative service under most Cigna commercial plans — including PPO, Open Access Plus, HMO, and LocalPlus. Coverage is for medically necessary care aimed at measurable improvement, not ongoing wellness maintenance.
It depends on your plan type. Cigna PPO and Open Access Plus members can book directly — no referral needed. Cigna HMO members must obtain a referral from their PCP first, and the referral must be coordinated within their medical group network. If you're unsure which plan type you have, look at your Cigna ID card — it should say PPO, OAP, HMO, or LocalPlus.
Visit limits are employer-specific and vary widely — typically between 12 and 40+ visits per year depending on your plan. Some OAP plans combine chiropractic with physical therapy and occupational therapy visits under a single shared limit. We verify your specific visit limit when we check your benefits before your first appointment.
This depends on your specific plan. Many Cigna plans allow the first several visits without prior authorization, with auth required as you approach your plan's visit threshold. Dr. Loewenstein's office handles the authorization process on your behalf — you don't need to call Cigna or fill out forms. We track your visit count and initiate auth when needed.
This is one of the most misunderstood parts of Cigna chiropractic coverage. Cigna routes its chiropractic benefit through ASH (American Specialty Health), and ASH reimburses for spinal manipulation only. E-stim, ART, soft tissue work, and traction are not covered under the Cigna/ASH chiropractic benefit — regardless of what Cigna's broader medical policy might say about those services through other provider types. Your copay covers the spinal adjustment. That is the only service Cigna pays for at a chiropractic visit through ASH.
Copays vary significantly by employer group and plan year — we never publish specific dollar amounts because they change and can mislead you. What we do instead: before your first visit, we contact Cigna directly, verify your exact in-network copay, and confirm whether your deductible applies. You'll know your out-of-pocket cost before you walk in.
The most common denial reasons with Cigna are maintenance care (not covered), exceeding visit limits, and missing prior authorization. Because Dr. Loewenstein's office verifies your benefits upfront, monitors your visit count, and handles authorization proactively, these situations are rare. If a claim issue does arise, we work to resolve it directly with Cigna on your behalf.
PPO and Open Access Plus members: yes, you can book directly. No PCP visit, no referral paperwork needed. Cigna HMO members: you'll need a referral from your PCP first. This is a California-specific HMO requirement — your PCP also needs to send the referral through your assigned medical group, not just directly to us.
You can search cigna.com for in-network providers — but Cigna's provider directory is known to have outdated listings. The most reliable method is to call our office at (858) 558-3111. We verify your specific plan and confirm in-network status directly with Cigna before your visit, so you're not relying on a directory that may not reflect current network participation.
Through the ASH chiropractic network, Cigna reimburses for spinal manipulation only — not for soft tissue work, massage, or manual therapy. These services are not covered under the Cigna/ASH chiropractic benefit. Your copay applies to the spinal adjustment, which is the only service Cigna reimburses at a chiropractic visit through ASH.
Unfortunately, Cigna's online provider directory is frequently outdated — this is one of the most common complaints from Cigna members and one of the most common sources of surprise out-of-network bills. A provider listed in the directory may no longer be in-network, and vice versa. That's why we verify your benefits directly with Cigna before every new patient visit rather than relying on directory information.
Dr. Loewenstein also accepts
these plans
Cigna is one of several major insurance plans accepted at Dr. Loewenstein's San Diego office in UTC/La Jolla.
Use your Cigna
coverage here
Dr. Jordan Loewenstein · 5151 Shoreham Place, Suite 175, UTC San Diego · We verify your benefits before your first visit so you walk in knowing exactly what to expect.