Physical therapy cost without insurance refers to an out-of-pocket expense. If you do not have insurance or it does not cover physical therapy, there are still ways to lower the cost of these treatments. The physical therapist may ask you to pay $150 for an assessment, but the insurance provider may only approve $75 to $100, prompting the clinic to wipe off the remaining $50. Patients who pay cash can negotiate rates with therapists, ask for a discount equal to normal insurance write-offs, and inform the company that they’ll pay cash upfront to save money on invoicing. When paying in cash, a service that costs $100 may only cost you $50.
Physical therapy is a form of medical care that utilizes physical means to help treat an illness, injury, or condition. This practice uses specific therapeutic exercises and techniques to improve mobility, strength, and flexibility in order to reduce pain and discomfort as well as promote better overall health. It can also be used when recovering from surgery or other treatments, such as chemotherapy. Physical therapists typically work together with doctors and other medical professionals to develop treatment plans tailored to each individual’s needs. Additionally, they are able to provide guidance on home-care exercises so that individuals can manage their own recovery processes.
If you have an ailment that may require surgical or another invasive procedure, physical therapy is an excellent option.
Physical therapists are qualified healthcare providers who must be licensed and follow certain guidelines to practice. Physical therapists’ regimens are excellent for treating pain, mitigating future health problems, and recovering mobility.
Physical therapy is often unavoidable, depending on the cause for your visit, so many people look for alternative ways to save money on healthcare. FirstQuote Health can help you save money on various healthcare services by assisting you with quotations. You may get low-cost urgent care services, lab testing, and prescription prescriptions by comparing quotes and comparisons.
Estimating the Physical Therapy Cost
It’s good to know your out-of-pocket costs before physical therapy. This can be easier if you understand how physical therapy treatments are billed. The first visit is a preliminary evaluation, and this session is usually charged at a higher cost than subsequent visits. Your therapist may charge for various treatments conducted during follow-up therapy sessions. The individual components of your therapy will be billed if a physiotherapist arranges appointments with you.
Cost of Physical Therapy With Insurance
Physical therapy will most likely be covered by your health insurance plan, if not all of it. The cost of physical therapy with insurance varies based on your insurance plan. If you’re merely looking for the average price of physical therapy with medical insurance, your copay will range from $20 to $75, and your coinsurance will range from 10% to 50%.
Cost of Physical Therapy Without Insurance
Physical therapy can be expensive, although it is usually less so than other surgery or pain treatment methods. Prices vary based on the physical therapist you see and the type of therapy given to you, among other things. Physical therapy sessions with no insurance, on average, cost $50-$350 per session, according to Thumbtack.
According to GuideDoc, how much is physical therapy without insurance can be answered by breaking down some physical therapy sessions into 15-minute increments. Depending on the type of therapy, you could be charged as much as $135 for 15 minutes or $540 for a one-hour session. If these fees seem excessive, it’s time to consider acquiring insurance. With First Quote Health, you may compare some of the finest health insurance policies for physical therapy.
The average cost of physical therapy without insurance will be determined by the services you need and your physical therapist’s willingness to work with you on cost and therapy structure. According to national standards, physical therapists perform a mean of 3.4 weighted procedures during a physical therapy visit. A single PT session costs roughly $100 because the typical Medicare-approved for service is around $26 and $30 each weighted treatment. Clinics frequently charge more than insurance company allows and deduct the difference. The insurance adjuster may not apply to a cash patient, resulting in a greater cost.
Other Costs to Consider
So far, we’ve just talked about how much physical therapy costs per session, but how many visits will you need to complete your therapy? Well, just like the expense of physical therapy, that number fluctuates. You might see effects after only one physical therapy session, or it could take months or years. Expect to need 7 to 10 physiotherapy sessions on average before noticing improvement.
Because you’ll almost certainly require numerous visits or sessions, your expenses will mount. The American Physical Therapy Association published a study that determined the average cost of low back pain physical therapy. According to the study, patients paid roughly $504 throughout four treatments. If you were to break it down, the average 7 to 10 sessions would cost between $882 and $1,260.
There is a slew of other considerations to make. You might need to buy medical supplies like heat packs or cold presses. These extra expenses might mount up quickly and end up costing you money.
How Much Is Physical Therapy?
It’s unlikely that every session will cost $100. Some visits may be shorter, while others may be much longer. The therapist must evaluate before you commence a physical therapy program. The goal of the evaluation is for the physical or occupational therapist to examine your injury or condition and create a treatment plan that will yield the best outcomes. An assessment could set you back $150 or more. The physical therapist may undertake different procedures for each session after the assessment. Some operations are billed by the minute; gait training, for example, could cost as much as $115 per quarter-hour. Functional training, electronic stimulation, therapeutic exercise, and manual therapy are common PT expenses paid every 15 minutes. They might cost anywhere from $75 to $135 for 15 minutes. Cervical traction, directions for utilizing Physiotherapy devices at home, and monitored exercise are examples of flat-rate procedures. The cost of these services is typically between $50 and $150 for each operation.
Equipment Cost
Your therapist may suggest buying goods to help you heal during your treatment. Your health insurance may or may not cover these expenses.
A cervical roll, balance board, exercise ball, lumbar roll, an assistive device such as a cane or crutches, shoulder pulleys, kinesiology tape, and resistance bands are all examples of equipment. If the equipment is approved, your physical therapist ought to be able to suggest some reasonably priced solutions for you to consider. It is not always essential to purchase the most expensive equipment, and some items, such as a lumbar roll or shoulder pulleys, can be built at home for a very low cost.
How to Lower Physical Therapy Costs
If you’re a savvy shopper, which you should be, you’re undoubtedly wondering if there are any ways to save money on physical therapy. You can, which is fantastic news! Whether or not you have health insurance, there are several methods to save money on physical therapy. Here’s how to do it.
Provider Selection
If you have health insurance, your plan most likely has a list of recommended providers from which you can choose. These medical providers have already arranged rates with your health insurance company, and you will benefit from the savings. Staying in-network for all of your medical needs, not just physical therapy, is usually a good approach to save money.
Utilize Cash Payment Negotiations
You will have to pay your physical therapist out of pocket if you don’t have health insurance or if you have but don’t like your current physician. The bright lining is that you may be ready to bargain a reduced payment because your therapy will have fewer administrative expenditures. That’s correct, and much like your health insurance company, you may bargain for low-cost physical treatment, which is a great way to save money. Another way is to look for physical therapists who charge on a sliding scale based on income and other factors.
Reduce Frequency of Visits
Consult your physical therapist to determine if there are any solutions to cut the time spent in each rehabilitation session or the total number of sessions. This money-saving technique will depend largely on your injury or condition, but you and your physical therapist may be able to figure out an at-home plan.
Purchase Your Own Equipment
The other option is recreating your own physical therapy clinic by purchasing equipment. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get hefty and expensive machines. You can get the essential pieces of equipment including resistance bands, stretch straps, foam rollers, an overhead pulley system, yoga ball, and balance pads! Having your own equipment can help reduce the frequency of visits as well.
Find Charities or Local Non-Profits
Search for local nonprofit charities that are dedicated to helping low-income individuals with financial hardships. Physical Therapy for All is a great example. For individuals who qualify for their programs, their sessions will be paid in full (up to 10 visits) by the organization at the clinics that they partner with.
Conclusion
While you can get physical therapy at a low cost without insurance with the methods above, having insurance is still the easiest and most cost-effective way to cover physical therapy treatments. Insurance plans typically cover all or part of the costs associated with physical therapy visits, making it significantly more affordable than paying out of pocket. Insurance also helps to ensure that you receive the best care possible by providing access to experienced and qualified providers. Additionally, having insurance often guarantees access to preventative care and other services as well as access to specialists should you need them. Finally, insurance can provide peace of mind knowing that any unexpected costs are covered. Find the health plans that fits your health needs today!