I swear by my chiropractor. I have had back related issues most of my life due to a nasty car accident I had when I was a child. While I typically did not need to see a chiropractor when I was in good shape and very physically active, now that I'm a parent and busy on numerous fronts, and work a job that puts me in front of a computer monitor at least 8 hours a day, I find it harder to have that time to exercise and subsequently I pay for it by putting my back out of line more often.
In efforts to stay on what I assume to be the OP's intent, I would say...
...take care of yourself by staying in decent physical shape.
...practice good lifting techniques when dealing with heavier equipment.
...if you have a back related issue just go to the chiropractor and pay out of pocket.
It is important to look into the methodology of the chiropractor you intend to use. Personally, I stay away from a local guy that just uses a little hand held tool that "thumps" your disks/areas of discomfort. I think this method is a joke. Especially when the whole visit is around 10-15 minutes. These are typically the types that want you to come back the next day or even twice that week.
The guy that I go to utilizes a different approach and numerous methods. He first uses electric stimulation, combined with heat packs, to get my back loosened up and ready for adjustment. He will then physically manipulate my body (vertebrae) and follow that up with a spin in the massage chair (if I need it). These visits typically take around 30-45 minutes. I know that I "got what I paid for" because I physically feel better after the visit. For example, I may have got my full range of motion back, or I no longer have a vertebrae turned pinching a nerve causing me to feel like someone was stabbing me in my back, etc. He is also more concerned with my health and well being instead of return visits!
In the end it is all up to you and your needs.
FYI, typically, chiropractic visits are not covered by most insurance providers anyway. I think that I may get $5 out of a $30 visit paid for, but at least it goes towards my overall deductible.