Myth: Cash Based Physical Therapy is Really Expensive!

1. More one-on-one time with your therapist.

This is 100%, without a doubt, the most important piece to me (and most of my patients as well)! When you are not worried about billing insurance companies and being reimbursed for your time, you suddenly have much more of it to give to your patients. There are typically no aides or trainers involved in your session, it is all time spent with your therapist. Most PT's went into this business because they love working with and helping people. This therapy approach really allows us to get back to the reason we became PT's in the first place- and you reap the benefits

2. More personalized attention.

3. Builds a strong patient-provider relationship.

Now, I know this one may sound a bit redundant but it sure is important. When you are being treated in a cash-based PT setting you build a strong relationship with your therapist. Trusting your therapist has a huge impact on your healing and having the opportunity to get to know each other one-on-one really allows for a deeper sense of trust to develop. All my patients have a direct way to contact me and know that they can reach out whenever they need me.

4. Yes, it may actually save you money in the long run.

Quality over quantity is an important concept here. More one-on-one time with your therapist means we don't need to see you as often. On average, I only see my patients 1x/wk but it is for a full hour. Sometimes we need 4 visits, sometimes it’s more. Either way, it gives you plenty of time between sessions to work on your program and start to see some results. More importantly, it empowers you to put in the work which = getting better, FASTER. With a less frequent PT schedule, this often works out to be much less than actually using your insurance.

Take this scenario for instance: a patient with a high copay of $60 per visit who needs to go to PT 2-3x/wk for 8 weeks will spend close to $1000 over the course of their care. During their visits, they are likely only spending ~20 minutes of actual one-on-one time with their PT. That's a lot of money and time for little reward. If that patient instead chooses a cash-based PT practice that charges $150/visit and needs only 6 visits, you are looking at $900. The math is a no-brainer!!

5. More freedom to address multiple issues at the same time.

While it is extremely unfair, insurance companies strongly dictate if you get better or not based on what they will approve. Did you know that under insurance PT's can only bill for treating one body part at a time? That means that you would need 2 separate evals and visits each week to be able to bill your insurance for your knee and your shoulder problem. In some cases, your PT may be able to justify it. They just better be prepared for a lot of extra paperwork, which really means less time for personalized patient care. Crazy right!? In the case of cash-based PT-- not an issue! We can treat whatever issues you are having without you needing to worry about it being denied by your insurance. Again, the outcome is you getting better faster because you are actually getting the care your PT knows you need.

6. More freedom to explore the root cause of the problem.

With longer one-on-one appointments and not worrying about insurance approvals, your PT can perform a thorough assessment of strengths, weaknesses, imbalances and how you move. This means we have a full picture of what is going on. This results in you living pain free and preventing issues from returning in the future. No trying to explain this to an insurance company just to get denied.

7. Many insurance companies reimburse for out-of-network PT.

Depending on your out-of-network benefits, your insurance company may actually reimburse you for your visits! Just make sure you get a superbill from your PT that you can submit to your insurance company. At Dickson Physical Therapy, I always provide my patients with a superbill that includes the appropriate information needed to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

8. More flexible scheduling means getting more of your time back.

It is no secret that time is our most precious commodity, and we can’t get it back. Only needing to see your PT once a week gives you more time back to do whatever you love! At Dickson Physical Therapy, I try to give you back even more of your time by giving you freedom from the standard 3x/wk model.

The last 2 are my favorite...

9. Empowering you to help heal yourself.

A good Physical Therapist will not "heal you" they will teach you to help heal yourself. Physical Therapists do not want you to have to attend PT for months at a time, we want you to take your health and wellness into your own hands. You have the power to help heal yourself, we just give you the guidance you need to get there. By choosing cash-based PT, you have already taken a huge step towards empowering yourself, because you have made the commitment to invest in your health.

10. Your health is worth any amount and is the BEST investment you could ever make.

It is simple, you only get one body and one chance-- take care of it!!

All of this really comes back to one main point. Cash based Physical Therapy has the ability to provide you with the highest quality of care. Aren't we all looking for a better experience with health care these days? I can promise you that high quality, affordable care still exists, and your insurance company does not have to be the barrier.

If you are considering cash based Physical Therapy for yourself but are uncertain or have questions, start with a simple phone or email consultation so you can get a better feel for if this is the right way to go. In the end, it’s all about fulfilling your individual needs. Stay informed, do your homework and know that there are still so many health care providers out there who truly care about helping you live your best life!