Patient Experience · FAQ
Two ways to pay. One standard of care.
The most common question we hear: 'Do I use my insurance, or pay direct?' Here's the honest, plain-English answer — and if you're still not sure, a 15-minute discovery call settles it for free.
Two ways to work with us
Same therapists, same standards of care. The difference is who pays, and what the plan is allowed to aim for.
| Physical Therapy (Insurance) | Performance Lab (Cash-Based) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Injury, surgery recovery, pain, and dizziness — restoring normal daily function. | Performance goals, injury prevention, fitness, and long-term health — going beyond normal. |
| Referral | Physician referral required for most plans. We schedule you within 48 hours. | None. Call today, start this week. |
| What it costs | Your plan's copay or deductible. We verify your benefits before your first visit. | Simple, transparent package or per-session pricing, quoted up front. |
| Visit limits | Set by your plan and 'medical necessity' — care ends when function returns. | None. The plan runs as long as your goal requires. |
| What the plan aims at | Discharge goals: pain resolved, motion restored, daily activities back. | Your number: swing speed, race pace, strength, or decades of durability. |
| Who treats you | A licensed physical therapist — the same one, every visit. | The same doctors of physical therapy, with TPI, SuperSpeed & CSCS credentials. |
Frequently asked questions
Do you take my insurance?
We accept most major plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield (incl. FEP), Blue Care Network, Blue Cross Complete, Priority Health, McLaren, Physicians Health Plan, Aetna, Humana, United Health Care, Medicare and Medicare supplements, Meridian, TriCare, VA Health Care (with authorization), and more — plus Workers’ Compensation and auto claims. If you don’t see your plan, call us: we’re always credentialing with new insurers, and we’ll verify your network status, coverage, and benefits before your first visit.
Why would I ever pay cash if I have insurance?
Because insurance pays only for what’s medically necessary — restoring normal daily function. It won’t pay to make a healthy golfer 20 yards longer, a healthy teenager faster, or a healthy 65-year-old stronger. Those are the goals the Performance Lab was built for. Cash-based care also means no referral, no visit caps, and a plan aimed at your goal instead of a discharge checklist.
Is the cash-based care a different (lesser) service?
The opposite of lesser — it’s the same doctors of physical therapy, with more time and freedom. Without insurance rules setting the agenda, sessions are built entirely around your goal, and treatment and training happen in the same plan.
I finished my insurance-covered PT but don't feel 100%. Now what?
This is the exact gap the Performance Lab fills. Insurance discharges you at ‘functional’ — we re-test your strength and movement, map what’s left between healed and confident, and build a direct-pay bridge program with the same therapist who did your rehab.
Can I start cash-based care without seeing a doctor first?
Yes. Michigan has direct access to physical therapy, and Performance Lab services never require a referral. If your evaluation reveals something that needs a physician’s attention, we’ll tell you immediately and help coordinate the referral.
What does cash-based care cost?
Pricing is transparent and quoted before you commit — per session or as a program package. Contact us for the current rate sheet. Under the No Surprises Act, you’re entitled to a written Good Faith Estimate of costs before service, and we provide one gladly.
Can I use my HSA or FSA?
In most cases, yes — services delivered by a licensed physical therapist are typically HSA/FSA-eligible expenses. Check your plan’s rules, and we’ll provide detailed receipts for your records.
Can I switch between the two tracks?
Constantly — it’s the whole design. Athletes finish insurance-covered rehab and move into performance training; Performance Lab members who get injured move into insurance-covered treatment the same week. One building, one team, one record of your history.
How many insurance-covered visits will I need?
It varies with your diagnosis, severity, and history. You’ll be re-evaluated monthly, and we send a progress report to your doctor at every follow-up, so everyone shares the same picture.
What is the No Surprises Act / Good Faith Estimate?
Federal law gives you the right to a written ‘Good Faith Estimate’ of your care costs at least one business day before service if you’re uninsured or self-paying. Ask us and we’ll prepare one for any service we offer.