Insurance: The Patient and Provider Perspective

As you may have noticed, a lot of providers are no longer accepting insurance and going the “cash pay” route. I think it is vital to address why this is in fact happening and happening rapidly. Believe me, I have been in the “patient shoes” and had the same questions and concerns regarding insurance. However, you will be surprised that in some instances, you may pay the same or even less and get better in less visits if you choose out of network services! Now, this blog is not a knock on in-network providers because they are honestly doing the best they can with what they have. I have been there. My intention is to provide you with my point of view as both the patient and provider in this industry in hopes of helping you make more informed decisions about your care.

For as long as I have been a working adult in the physical therapy world, health insurance has been on my radar. Always under the impression that “you need to have a good plan or you’ll have to pay a lot of money for services.” I could not be more wrong. Over time, I became less and less surprised when I would get billed $30 for a literal 3 minute telehealth appointment or a $700 emergency room bill because I hadn’t met my deductible. (…but I am still paying a premium every month so shouldn’t that count toward something?) It is confusing and designed to be just that.