It is 2012, the economy is improving and people are getting jobs with or without benefits.those of us who have medical insurance are seeing a big hike in cost-sharing when we use it.We will talk here specifically about the increased cost of physical therapy benefits, cost-sharing and how that may affect your health.For employers to be able to offer health insurance and make it affordable for their employees,they will have to change the type of benefits and cost-sharing namely,the deductible, co-insurance and co-pay.

If you have, for example, back pain and your physician recommends physical therapy treatment, he or she may recommend a physical therapy clinic for you to go to. After verifying your insurance coverage (if they provide that service to you before starting your physical therapy, like we do at OMPT Specialists ), you will be responsible to pay a deductible… Let’s say $1,000 or $500 before your insurance kicks in. After that amount is satisfied, then you will be responsible to pay coinsurance, perhaps 20 percent, 30 percent or higher depending on your plan. That adds about $20 to $40 per visit on top of any co-pay you might have. Remember, you may have to see your physical therapist up to three times a week for four to eight weeks.

Per the example above, these fees can get very expensive and it depends on your medical status and your limitation or injury.

The question is: will the cost get more or less expensive in the future?It looks like the cost will increase from year to year. Not only will the cost increase, but insurance companies are also trying to limit the allowed number of visits with your physical therapist so they can save more.

So, how can you make sure that you get treated for your neck, back or knee pain and pay less for overall therapy? You can follow these recommended steps:

1. You need to know as a patient that you can go anywhere you would like for physical therapy as long as they accept your insurance.

2. When you search for a clinic or if your doctor recommends it to you or even your neighbor suggested a clinic to you, ask to have a quick meeting with your therapist (at OMPT Specialists , for instance, we offer free 30-minute consultations with our physical therapists) . or just go and look at the clinic. Ask the physical therapist about his or her experience in treating conditions like yours.

3. Ask if you will be doubled or tripled with other patients during your appointment (OMPT Specialists offers one-on-one therapy sessions with your physical therapist). If you’re responsible to pay all this money for your therapy, then you must make sure you will get the best care.

4. During your therapy you need to see if it is giving you relief or increasing your pain. (I personally do not believe in “no pain, no gain.” I believe in “No pain, lots of gain.”).

5. Monitor your progress and improvement by yourself. Are you able to move better? Is the pain less overall or has there been no change at all with your functional activities and level of pain? If you feel that you are just going there to finish the amount of prescribed visits and see no improvements whatsoever, you are wasting your money and your time.

6. Ask your physical therapist about what is the long-term plan after finishing the allowed visits. At OMPT Specialists, we offer a long-term plan consisting of a step-down gym program for $25 a month or for seniors to join a twice weekly exercise class for as little as $4 per class.

As a patient, you must take more responsibility when it comes to physical therapy treatment to have a better quality of life.

At the end, physical therapy is a great approach and helps to improve functional activities and reduce pain if it is done right.

At our clinic, OMPT Specialists, we know that not all physical therapy works and all therapists are not the same. To save money you must pursue the best quality of care that is offered.

Remember, it is your money, it is your time and it is your choice.

This article written by:

MICHAEL FAHMY, PT, OMPT
Certified Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapist
President of OMPT Specialists, Inc.