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  • Writer's pictureAndrea Sarkauskas

Private Pay vs Insurance in Speech Therapy

Updated: Jun 14, 2022


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It's no secret that healthcare costs are on the rise. In fact, a recent study showed that the cost of health insurance premiums has increased by over 83 percent since 2001. While many families have health insurance through their employers, the cost of coverage continues to increase each year, often outpacing wage growth. So what are the benefits of paying privately? Here are a few reasons why it might be worth considering:


Private pay is more customizable to the individual's needs

Most speech therapy is covered by insurance, but there is an increasing trend of people choosing to pay for speech therapy out of pocket. There are several advantages to this arrangement.


First, insurance companies often have strict criteria that must be met in order to qualify for speech therapy, and they may only cover a certain number of sessions. As a result, many people are unable to get the speech therapy they need due to not meeting the criteria or being limited by the number of sessions covered, which halts progress. Private pay speech therapy provides an alternative. When you private pay for speech therapy, you are able to choose your own therapist and determine how often you meet. There are no qualifying criteria, so you can start speech therapy as soon as you need it.


Second, you get to choose your own therapist. When you have insurance, you have to choose from a list of in-network providers, and not all qualified therapists may be providers for your insurance company. With private pay, you can interview several therapists and choose the one that you feel is the best fit.


Lastly, private pay speech therapy is more customized to the individual's needs. Your therapist will be able to design a treatment plan that is specifically tailored to your goals and preferences rather than what the insurance company deems necessary. If you are considering speech therapy, private pay is definitely worth considering.


Private pay is less expensive in the long run

Speech therapy is an important part of many people's lives and has so many benefits, but it can be expensive. Private pay speech therapy can be a great option for those who are looking to save money in the long run. Private speech therapists often have lower overhead costs than speech therapists who work for hospitals or other institutions. This means that they can offer lower prices for their services.


In addition, private speech therapists may be more flexible with their scheduling and able to offer more personalized care. As a result, private pay speech therapy can be a great option for those who are looking to save money and get the best possible care. Sometimes, when an insurance company pays for therapy it's easy for parents to take a back seat and accept the service. When parents pay privately, they are more likely to follow the therapist's recommendations when it comes time for practice at home. This is because the sessions serve as an investment in therapy and will help them get back what was paid so soon after paying upfront!


Private pay provides better quality care

When it comes to speech therapy, private pay usually provides better quality care. This is because speech therapists who accept private pay are often able to take on fewer clients, giving them more time to work with each individual.


In addition, speech therapists who accept private pay are not bound by the same reimbursement rates as those working for insurance companies and are therefore often able to choose their clients, so they can pick the cases that they feel most passionate about.


Finally, private speech therapists are not required to complete the same amount of paperwork as those working for insurance companies. This means that they can spend more time actually working with their clients, which leads to better outcomes. In short, if you are looking for the best possible speech therapy care, private pay is the way to go.

If you are looking for speech therapy, it is often best to pay privately. Insurance companies often do not cover the full cost of speech therapy based on session limits, and they also have a limited number of therapists on their panel. Private providers typically offer more personalized services and a wider range of services than what insurance provides. Lastly, private providers usually work with your schedule instead of requiring you to fit into their availability. Give us a call or text today at 763-280-3202 to get started with Chit Chat Speech Therapy! We would be happy to help you improve your communication skills.


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