Cash-based/Private-pay Physical Therapy vs. Insurance-based
Updated: Jan 2
Insurance companies have us convinced that we must pay them a monthly premium, pay a high deductible, all this money out of pocket, and get very little coverage in return. It is common these days that most people have rather high deductibles and therefore end up paying out of pocket for their physical therapy. The typical out of pocket expense per visit for physical therapy in an outpatient clinic ranges from $200-500 per visit. As you can imagine, there are many times when you will finish your physical therapy and still have a deductible. During their physical therapy they were one of 3 or 4 people being seen by the same PT, at no fault of their own or the physical therapist’s, potentially making their entire process take longer to recover from.
When I started my own practice I decided I wouldn’t take insurance. Why? Insurance companies limit your care in so many ways, for example:
How many visits a PT can work with you
What type of care a PT can provide you
The ability to work with you one-on-one
What has to occur first before you can receive PT.
With my in-home physical therapy practice, I can provide the care that I feel the patient needs and in the manner that they need it for as long as I feel they can benefit. That is why I am a cash-based or private-pay physical therapist. To see my clients get results in just a couple of visits and finish their physical therapy in a much shorter period reminds me of why I decided to stay out-of-network with insurance companies.
Physical therapy doesn’t have to equal pain. Many of my clients don’t have pain at all or just general aches and pains, stiffness, etc. Insurance plans will absolutely not cover physical therapy or training unless pain is involved and activities of daily living are affected. Clients seek me out in this manner because they want to return to exercising/training, enhance their performance, take their sport to the next level, or increase their strength, power, agility and make sure they keep good form to prevent injuries. Insurance companies declare these activities are not functional and will deny your care when you attempt to go in-network for your PT.
As a physical therapist, I am a movement specialist and expert in all things movement. Physical therapists have a doctorate in their field that specializes in movement science or kinesiology and can help you work towards your goals. If you want to progress in any way, a physical therapist can help you see where your deficits are and what might be keeping you from maximizing your potential. Many other people can assist with this area as well: personal trainers, coaches, strength and conditioning specialists, etc.
To learn more about the differences between a physical therapist and a personal trainer, click here.
I have worked with individuals and teams to help them progress towards their own athletic goals or team goals to better their potential. Sometimes it is as simple as adding in 15 minutes before practice to learn new techniques that you can then take directly into your practice. And you don't havae to be playing a sport to receive training. We can work together in your home or gym to get back in shape, make a step in your fitness journey, or train for a new activity/sport.
The first step is starting with a No-charge phone consultation. You can schedule an appointment here and we can further discuss your goals and if we would be a good fit to work together. From there, we can either schedule an evaluation or get you set up with the next best steps to assist you with your goals. Click here to schedule a call!