Insurance, Cash-Pay & Your Free Discovery Visit
Not sure if Catalyst is the right fit? Take us up on our free PT discovery visit — about 20-30 minutes with a physical therapist, no charge, no obligation. We’ll talk through what’s going on and figure out together whether we’re the right next step.
Why most Catalyst patients go cash-pay
Here’s the thing most clinics won’t tell you up front: for the majority of our patients, cash-pay is more affordable than insurance, even when we’re in their network.
Most PPO plans now come with $3,000–$8,000 deductibles and $40–$75 copays per visit. By the time you’ve used the 8–12 visits a typical episode of care requires, you’ve already paid out-of-pocket for almost all of it — often locked into 20-minute slots with techs because that’s how insurance reimbursement structures most clinics. At Catalyst you get hands-on care, skilled testing, and progressive exercise prescription performed by a physical therapist. Once you compare what you’d actually spend out-of-pocket through insurance against the value of real physical therapy care, the math usually works in your favor.
And we provide a detailed superbill after every visit that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. Many patients receive partial reimbursement on top of better care.
Insurance plans we accept (in-network)
If you’d still prefer to go through insurance, here are the carriers we’re currently in-network with:
Major PPO carriers
- Any Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield of California (BSCA)
Government & military
- TRICARE Prime & TRICARE Select
- Medicare (Part B)
- VA / TRIWEST (Veterans Affairs CCN)
Workers’ compensation
- Medrisk
- OneCall
- Corvel Care IQ
If you have one of the above PPO plans, we’ll verify your specific benefits before your first visit so there are no surprises.
Out-of-network: Aetna & Cigna
If you have Aetna or Cigna, here’s how we work together:
- Call the member-services number on the back of your card and ask about your out-of-network physical therapy benefits: OON deductible (and how much is left), OON coinsurance percentage, and OON visit limit per year.
- Email those benefits to Jade or Annie at aa@catalystptandwellness.com.
- We’ll walk you through what your OON costs would look like and whether OON-via-insurance or our cash-pay option is the better fit.
Many Aetna and Cigna patients still find cash-pay plus superbill works out better — we’ll be honest with you about which path makes more financial sense.
Plans we do not accept
To save you a phone call, plans Catalyst is not in-network with:
- Any HMO plan (we are PPO-only)
- Kaiser
- SHARP
- Medi-Cal (including Community Health Group)
- HEALTH COMP (Scripps Anthem plan)
- HEALTHNET PPO
- UnitedHealthcare / UMR / GEHA
If you have one of these plans, you can still see us as a cash-pay patient, and we’ll provide a superbill for any reimbursement you may be eligible for. Reach out to talk through pricing.
HSA & FSA
Physical therapy at Catalyst is HSA- and FSA-eligible. We can provide an itemized receipt for reimbursement.
Common insurance questions
What does a discovery visit actually include?
A free discovery visit is about 20–30 minutes with a physical therapist. We talk through what’s going on, do a brief movement screen if appropriate, and decide together whether physical therapy at Catalyst is the right next step. No charge, no commitment.
Why are HMO plans excluded?
HMO plans require care to be coordinated through a primary care physician within the HMO network. As an out-of-network independent practice, we’re not part of those networks and can’t bill HMO plans directly.
How does cash-pay pricing work?
We have transparent session and package pricing. Cash-pay rates are the same across all three San Diego locations. Call any clinic for current pricing — we’ll quote it directly so you can compare it against what your insurance plan would actually cost you.
What is a superbill and how do I use it?
A superbill is a detailed clinical receipt with the diagnosis codes, treatment codes, and costs from your visit. After each cash-pay visit we email you a superbill to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Many patients receive partial reimbursement against their out-of-network benefits.
Do you accept Medicare?
Yes. We’re enrolled with Medicare and accept Medicare Part B beneficiaries.
Do I need a referral?
California is a direct-access state — you can begin physical therapy at Catalyst without a physician referral for up to 45 days or 12 visits, whichever comes first. Some PPO plans (and TRICARE) may still require a referral for billing purposes; we’ll let you know during benefits verification.
The smart first step is the free discovery visit
Twenty minutes with a physical therapist, zero pressure, and a clear answer about whether Catalyst is the right fit.
Our locations
LOCATION
CATALYST MISSION VALLEY
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: (619) 501-2195
Fax: (619) 501-2176
info@catalystptandwellness.com
CATALYST POINT LOMA
Phone: (619) 810-8856
Fax: (619) 501-2176
info@catalystptandwellness.com
CATALYST 4S RANCH
Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92127
Phone: (619) 501-2195
Fax: (619) 501-2176
info@catalystptandwellness.com
CATALYST COLORADO
Phone: (970) 834-3662
Fax: (619) 501-2176
info@catalystptandwellness.com
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