A very popular question I get asked frequently is “Why don’t you accept insurance directly?” Quite frankly, because I actually want to get you better…all better. Not just “good enough” or “functional enough to make it up and down a set of stairs” or “pain free with washing your hair.” A lot of folks I work with are either high level competitive athletes or are looking to get the most out of their fitness routines. Health insurance does not allow me to do this.
If you have any experience with physical therapy you very well know that once you get to about 80% better, insurance cuts you off, your PT gives you some exercises to continue that they instructed you to do while simultaneously doing hands on work with one patient, and yelling across the room to two other patients to make a correction on their exercises. Going through college I worked as a personal trainer and I saw the benefits of having private one on one time with someone and I still believe in the value that time spent with someone has. Being cash based allows me to do things I have deemed necessary from MY assessment of you, not the insurance companies assessment of my assessment. If you are a high level powerlifter or weightlifter or fitness junkie, there is a lot we can do for you here, but not a whole lot if an insurance company can see that you are already “functional” enough to do your regular tasks of daily living.
I work for my patients, not an insurance company. Think of things this way. You frequent your favorite restaurant because of what you value. The fresh ingredients, the five star chef, the menu selection, the friendly and helpful staff, and the environment, and that is essentially what you are paying for. Now say your favorite restaurant gets bought out by a chain like Applebee’s. I’m sorry if that is your favorite restaurant because there are much better chains out there. But now as a chain to make more money for corporate, the staff gets paid less, the ingredients are all frozen and boxed, the menu selection changes, the staff is unhappy because they aren’t getting paid, and they aren’t getting paid because the food sucks and the new environment sucks. Do you still want to go that same restaurant anymore?
This is essentially what working in the insurance model entails. Health insurance premiums are going up, while reimbursement is going down with more and more claims being denied, and people aren’t getting better. Being cash based allows me to give the time people deserve, the interventions they need, and the value of care that I want to be able to deliver to everyone.
