Physical Therapy Cost

• For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically consist of a copay of $10 -$75 per session or coinsurance of 10%-50% or more. Physical therapy typically is covered by health insurance when medically necessary.
• For patients not covered by health insurance, physical therapy typically costs $50 -$350 or more per session, depending on the length of the session, the service provided during the session and the provider. Physical therapy provided in a hospital setting tends to be more expensive.
• Total cost can range from hundreds of dollars for a relatively minor issue, such as a routine sports injury, that might require several sessions, up to thousands or tens of thousands of dollars for a major problem, such as rehabilitation from a serious accident or major surgery that might require several sessions per week for months. For example, Baudendistel Physical Therapy charges $100 for an initial evaluation and $75 for each one-hour physical therapy session. Kathe Wallace Physical Therapy in Washington charges $165 -$205 for a one-hour initial evaluation, $112 for appointments less than 45 minutes and $150 for a session of 50 to 55 minutes. Elite PT in Delaware and Maryland charges $150 for a biomechanical evaluation and $65 for 30 minutes of skilled massage. Akron General Hospital in Ohio charges, for each 15-minutes: $51 for home/self-care training, $78 for gait training, $97 for exercise, $100 for massage and $132 for manual electrical stimulation or neuro-muscular re-education -- for a total of $204 -$528 per hour.

• The physical therapist typically will do an initial assessment that lasts an hour or longer to examine the patient and determine a course of treatment.
• After that, the frequency, length and type of treatment depend on the patient and the problem being treated. Types of physical therapy that might be performed include exercises to improve strength, coordination and balance; manual therapy, such as massage, to decrease pain and improve flexibility and circulation; and other treatments, such as hydrotherapy, ultrasound treatments and electrical stimulation.
• WebMD offers a guide to physical therapy.

• Depending on the individual and the reason for physical therapy, the therapist might recommend hot packs, cold packs or other equipment for home use in between sessions. At Medical Supplies & Equipment Co., a balance board costs about $50 -$100 or more, fitness and exercise balls cost about $20 -$80 or more, resistance bands cost $10 to $100 or more and an exercise rail system or chest pulley weights can cost up to $800 or more.

• Many providers offer discounted packages. For example, Joint Ventures Physical Therapy and Fitness in Massachusetts charges $70 for a half-hour session and $105 for an hour-long session, but offers packages that take $10 off the cost of each session.
• Many providers offer discounts to uninsured/cash-paying patients. For example, ARC Physical Therapy in Illinois offers a 30% discount to cash-paying patients, as well as special waivers or discounts for patients undergoing financial hardship.

• A primary care physician or specialist can provide a referral to a physical therapist. Or, the American Physical Therapy Association offers a physical therapist locator by zip code and area of specialization.
• Physical therapists should have a degree from an accredited program and should have either a doctorate (DPT) or master's degree (MPT) in physical therapy. Physical therapists are licensed at the state level after passing an exam, and it is important to verify that a provider is licensed. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy offers contact information for each state licensing body.
• Reading Berks Physical Therapy LLC offers a list of things to know before choosing a physical therapist.

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