As medical professionals, we’re very aware of the financial strain that medical expenses can place on a family. One concern we address fairly frequently is the issue of the overall cost of physical therapy, since our patients are looking for the solution that will provide the greatest benefit for their dollars.
The cost of physical therapy varies based on factors like complexity, insurance coverage, and the setting of the therapy. On average, sessions range from $75 to $120 in the United States, with rates around $100 to $150 for specialized services or in-home therapy.
In this article, we’ll explore the average cost of physical therapy per session, per hour, and overall. We’ll also discuss the various factors that may affect this cost, with the goal of helping you determine what options will work best for your situation and within your budget.
Factors affecting the cost of physical therapy
As the old saying goes, the correct answer to every question is “it depends.” In the case of physical therapy, the costs can be affected by a number of factors:
- The frequency and duration of sessions
- The overall length of the treatment program in weeks
- How you’re planning to pay (in-network, out-of-network, cash pay physical therapy, etc.)
- The setting of the therapy (in-home vs in-clinic)
Below, we’ll break down the various ways that these factors can affect the overall cost of your treatment stay, and provide some practical tips to curtail the cost, if you find yourself in a situation where you need therapy but are struggling to justify the expense.
Average cost of physical therapy
The cost of physical therapy can vary widely depending on various factors such as location, the therapist’s experience, the type of therapy needed, the duration and frequency of sessions, and whether you have insurance coverage.
In the United States, a session of physical therapy can range from $80 to $120 per session. Generally, initial evaluations take a little more time and are slightly higher in cost than regular visits to the clinic.
Regarding the number of sessions, most of the referrals for physical therapy we receive from providers are requesting four to six weeks of therapy at two to three sessions per week.
Doing the math, this means that the average cost of physical therapy would range between:
- Low end: $640 (two sessions per week for four weeks at $80 per session)
- High end: $2160 (three sessions per week for six weeks at $120 per session)
Note that if you have insurance to cover physical therapy, you likely won’t be paying the entire amount yourself. The average copay for a physical therapy visit is between $25 and $50.
If we adjust the calculations above to account for this, we get the following numbers:
- Low end: $200 (two sessions per week for four weeks with a $25 copay)
- High end: $900 (three sessions per week for six weeks with a $50 copay)
Add to this amount the deductible amount on your insurance plan, and you’ll receive a more realistic number.
In reality, the average cost of physical therapy is going to be somewhere in between these two extremes, and the factor of insurance coverage will ideally reduce this cost dramatically, only requiring you to pay a portion of the cost.
Variance in physical therapy cost per session
The average cost of a physical therapy session varies depending on factors such as geographic location, the therapist’s experience, and the session duration. As we’ve mentioned above, $80 to $120 per session seems to be a good rough average.
In locales with higher overhead, such as urban areas, the cost may be higher than in rural areas or areas with a lower cost of doing business overall. Additionally, the specific experience and specialties of the therapist will affect the cost – a pelvic floor specialist with a good reputation may well charge more than a regular physical therapist.
The most reliable way to determine the cost per session, of course, is to contact the office of the local physical therapist in question and ask them.
Physical therapy cost per hour
We are sometimes also asked about the cost per hour for physical therapy. The truth is that physical therapy is typically not billed to the patient per hour. In general, the individual cost of the sessions are determined by the modalities used.
For instance, a session involving manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, electrical stimulation, and a heat pack will cost more than a session only involving the exercise, even if both sessions take 45 minutes to complete.
So, we recommend looking at the physical therapy cost per visit rather than an hourly rate. Of course, this can vary from provider to provider. As mentioned above, the only way to know for sure is to contact the provider in question and ask them.
In-network vs out of network physical therapy cost
The difference between in-network and out-of-network physical therapy costs primarily relates to the level of coverage provided by your health insurance plan.
In-network
In-network physical therapy refers to services provided by healthcare providers who have contracted with your health insurance company. Typically, in-network providers have negotiated rates with your insurance company, which means they have agreed on specific fees for services.
If you visit an in-network physical therapist, your insurance plan will usually cover a larger portion of the costs, and you’ll likely have lower out-of-pocket expenses, such as copayments or coinsurance.
In-network providers are generally more cost-effective for you because of the negotiated rates and the insurance coverage they accept.
Out-of-network
Out-of-network physical therapy involves services provided by healthcare providers who have not contracted with your health insurance company. Because there’s no negotiated agreement, out-of-network providers may charge their own rates for services, which can be higher than what in-network providers charge.
If you choose to see an out-of-network physical therapist, your insurance plan may still provide coverage, but it’s typically at a lower rate compared to in-network services. You may also be responsible for paying the difference between the out-of-network provider’s charges and what your insurance plan considers to be a reasonable and customary amount (this is known as balance billing).
Despite this, there can sometimes be an advantage to seeking an out-of-network provider.
Read our full article on out-of-network physical therapy to learn more about the pros and cons of this approach.
How much does physical therapy cost without insurance?
The cost of physical therapy without insurance generally means you’re paying the full “private pay” physical therapy cost that an individual provider’s office has set. This is fairly simple to calculate by simply doing the math based on the figures listed above in the average cost per session.
One note about the cost of private pay physical therapy: since the provider’s office isn’t having to deal with billing, private pay physical therapy can be more negotiable. Whether you’re choosing a private pay option for some specific reason related to your insurance, or you simply don’t have insurance, it can be worth it to discuss your situation with the individual provider.
Oftentimes, physical therapy clinics will be willing to wiggle on the price if you pay out-of-pocket since private pay can be a more reliable source of revenue for the business without the hassles associated with insurance billing.
In home physical therapy cost
In general, in-home physical therapy treatment will cost more per session than in-clinic physical therapy. This price difference essentially reflects both the increased travel expenses on the part of the therapist as well as the increased time commitment (having to drive from one location to another).
You can expect to pay $100 to $150 per session for an in-home visit. However, in many cases, in-home therapy can transition into lower cost in-clinic physical therapy services after the patient becomes more mobile or their injuries are less acute.
As with all the options above, the individual therapist’s practice will set the prices – contact the practice in question to get a more accurate read on the costs.
How to make physical therapy more affordable
We led this article by stating that we understand medical expenses are not easy to swing for many families, especially if they are unexpected.
If the figures above seem like something that you can’t handle easily, here are some practical tips for making physical therapy more affordable:
Discuss your situation with your therapist. This is always the place to start. Your therapist may have some easy solutions to lower the cost overall, but they can’t work with you if you don’t discuss the situation with them.
Alter the frequency of your visits. If a therapist knows that you’re struggling to meet the cost, one modification they can make to your treatment plan is to provide you with a more robust home exercise plan and lower your visit frequency from three times per week to two times per week.
Ask about doing a hybrid DIY physical therapy. As we mentioned in our article on DIY physical therapy, it is generally ill-advised to take matters into your own hands completely. However, many patients can have success with dedicated home exercise plans if they’re checking in with a professional every few weeks or even every month.
Complete your home exercise plans! We can’t harp on this enough. Patients who complete their home exercise programs get better more quickly. Quicker recovery equals less visits, which equals lower cost overall.
