You’ve recently suffered a debilitating accident and sustained a brain injury that has affected your ability to communicate effectively. Now the worst part is, you don’t even have health insurance, so you have to foot all the treatment expenses for your brain injury out-of-pocket, and to add to that, speech therapy.

Now you’ve probably have several questions running through your mind, “How do I get speech therapy without insurance?” “How much does therapy cost out-of-pocket?”

Fortunately, we’ve carefully written this piece for you. Here, we’ve explored all that you need to know about speech therapy without insurance coverage, factors that influence the cost of your speech therapy, and alternative methods of payment that help to reduce the overall cost.

Key Takeaways

• Speech therapy without insurance is expensive, with sessions costing between $100 to $250, and initial evaluation potentially costing up to $500.
• Several factors influence the cost of your speech therapy, including your therapist’s experience and expertise, geographic location, and severity of communication disorder.
• Several cost-effective alternative payment options exist. A few of them include Medicare, Medicaid, early intervention programs, and university programs.
• Constant therapy offers a budget-friendly means to get you started with treatment through online speech therapy.

How Much is Speech Therapy without Insurance?

Based on national averages, the average cost of speech-language therapy per session, without insurance, ranges between $100 – $250, depending on individual needs. However, your initial evaluation and assessment may range between $200 – $500. The accumulated amount, especially for individuals who require frequent sessions for months to years because of the severity, can add up to thousands of dollars. This can be debilitating. Bear in mind that this excludes other expenses, such as transportation costs and time.

Generally, the price of your speech therapy varies based on various factors, including the location and expertise of your SLP, and the duration and frequency of your therapy sessions. The price of therapy for children may also vary slightly compared to that for adults.

Factors that Influence the Cost of Speech Therapy

Several factors can affect the cost of your speech therapy. The where and how, as well as other factors, can either reduce or increase the cost of your therapy. Let’s explore some of the main factors and how they can affect your therapy pricing.

Location

The cost of your speech therapy varies depending on your speech-language pathologist’s location. Urban or city-based speech therapists often charge higher than local therapists due to the higher cost of living and overall expenses.

Severity and type of your communication disorder

The more complex and severe your speech disorder is, the higher the cost of your speech therapy. Complex and severe speech disorders often require longer therapy sessions or treatments that are more frequent and intense, thereby increasing the total cost. Also, the price of your speech therapy may vary depending on the specific speech disorder you have. Your therapist will typically communicate the expected duration and frequency of your therapy session following assessment and evaluation.

Therapist’s Expertise

As with several other fields, the experience and qualifications of your speech therapist play a role in the cost of your therapy. You’re likely to pay more if your speech therapist has several years of experience and advanced degrees or certificates.

Type of Therapy

The cost of your speech therapy can also be influenced by the type. For instance, physical speech therapy will cost about 10 to 15% more than online speech therapy (1). Also, private therapy sessions have higher price tags compared to group sessions (2). Private therapy sessions may range from $100 to $200, while group therapy sessions may cost between $50 to $100 per visit.

Insurance Coverage

Insurance coverage serves as an advantage if it partially or fully covers your speech therapy. It can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs and the overall cost of treatment. However, it is essential to check with your insurance provider to confirm the coverage details, such as coverage limits and deductibles.

Note that speech therapy costs without insurance may be significantly higher, but you can explore alternative payment options to help reduce the financial burden.

Alternative Payment Options To Reduce Cost for Your Speech Therapy

Health insurance coverage is one of the most important and reliable ways to reduce your speech therapy costs. However, it is one out of many options. There are several strategies you can employ to effectively reduce your speech therapy cost without insurance.

Medicaid

This government-sponsored program is particularly beneficial to low-income earners. It provides health insurance coverage to eligible low-income earners. However, this coverage varies depending on the state, as each state manages its own Medicaid program. Generally, most states primarily cover speech therapy and other medical services for children under 21. It provides coverage for speech therapy provided at home, schools, and some other facilities.

Medicare

If you’re over 65 years old, you may be eligible for Medicare Part B coverage. Medicare Part B strictly covers speech-language therapy that is recommended and administered by qualified healthcare professionals – medically necessary treatments (3). However, to access this benefit, you must meet a deductible of about $257 first, after which Medicaid begins to cover 80% of your speech therapy for as long as you need it, making it a suitable cover for those who require prolonged speech therapy lasting months or years.

Nevertheless, note that while there are no annual coverage limits, there’s a general threshold, and you’ll need to get another medical report to continue enjoying this benefit if you exceed it.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

A flexible spending account allows you to save some of your income before it is taxed. Although this reduces your overall taxable income, it provides you with a reasonable amount to use to address qualified medical expenses, including your speech therapy bills. If you don’t have a flexible spending account, you can confirm with your employer to confirm if they offer it.

Early Intervention Programs

Early intervention programs/services are one of the state-funded public programs created to cater to children between 0 to 3 years old. This program offers substantial to full coverage of speech therapy expenses for children with developmental disorders impacting communication skills.

University Programs

This is another reliable alternative to help you reduce out-of-pocket expenses. Graduate speech language therapy students are often allowed to provide therapy services under the guidance of professional SLPs at a discounted rate. This strategy is built to benefit the students and the patient. You get access to affordable speech therapy while graduate students get their required training and experience.

Private Pay Discounts

Generally, patients who do not have health insurance have to pay out-of-pocket for their speech therapy. However, some SLPs offer discounts when bulk payments are made for several sessions in advance.

Conclusion: Exploring Constant Therapy for More Affordable Speech Therapy

Dealing with speech impairments after a brain injury or infection can be overwhelming. However, struggling to meet the out-of-pocket costs of your treatment makes it even more frustrating. If you’re seeking cost-effective ways to handle your health bills without insurance, you can explore the options above. Additionally, you can also explore online speech therapy through Constant Therapy. Our budget-friendly app, built by scientists and professionals, connects you with licensed Speech-language pathologists and provides you with medically-proven exercises and activities to improve your communication skills. Furthermore, we provide a free 14-day trial period to get you started on your recovery journey at no cost. Try our app for speech therapy here!

Written by: Dr. Ori Otokpa, MBBS

Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Danielle Kelvas, MD

References

1. Scott, A. M., Clark, J., Cardona, M., Atkins, T., Peiris, R., Greenwood, H., Wenke, R., Cardell, E., & Glasziou, P. (2024). Telehealth versus face-to-face delivery of speech language pathology services: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633×241272976
2. Dickson, K., Marshall, M., Boyle, J., McCartney, E., O’Hare, A., & Forbes, J. (2008). Cost analysis of direct versus indirect and individual versus group modes of manual‐based speech‐and‐language therapy for primary school‐age children with primary language impairment. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 44(3), 369–381. https://doi.org/10.1080/13682820802137041
3. Speech-language pathology services. (n.d.). Medicare. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/speech-language-pathology-services