Anchorage Physical Therapy Costs by Insurance

Sho Sugihara
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July 31, 2025
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3 min
Discover physical therapy costs in Anchorage, Alaska. Compare Premera, Aetna, & Moda rates for PT evaluations & treatments. Get pricing transparency.
A chart that displays the cost of manual therapy in Anchorage, Alaska for Premera, Aetna and Moda

How Do Physical Therapy Costs in Anchorage Compare

If you're facing physical therapy in Anchorage, you're probably wondering what it will actually cost you. Unfortunately, the answer isn't straightforward; it depends heavily on your insurance plan and where you go for treatment.

A typical physical therapy journey involves three main services: an initial evaluation to assess your condition ($99–$301 with insurance), therapeutic exercises to build strength and mobility ($45–$88 per session), and hands-on manual therapy for pain relief ($45–$81 per session). Most patients attend PT 2-3 times per week for 4-8 weeks, so understanding these costs up front can help you budget for treatment and choose the most affordable provider for your situation.

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How much you pay with insurance depends on several details: It varies based on whether you've met your deductible, what your plan charges for copays and coinsurance, and if your plan uses a flat copay or a percentage (coinsurance) for each type of physical therapy service. For example, if your deductible isn’t met, you’ll pay the full negotiated rate—say, $58 for therapeutic exercise. If your deductible is paid, you might just owe a $30 copay or 20% coinsurance (so $12 for a $58 session), depending on your plan. These details mean your out-of-pocket cost can change even for the exact same service at the same clinic.

Without insurance, you'll pay significantly more—typically $200–$350 for evaluations and $95–$120 per treatment session. Below, we'll break down the specific costs for each type of service you're likely to encounter.

What should you expect to pay for physical therapy with insurance?

In-network physical therapy costs in Anchorage, Alaska, are based on negotiated rates between your insurance company and providers, which represent the maximum amount your insurer will pay for covered services. Based on our analysis of negotiated rate contracts from Alaska-based providers for three major insurers, Aetna offers the lowest evaluation rates while Premera provides more competitive pricing for treatment services.

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Insurance Coverage Comparison for Physical Therapy in Anchorage, Alaska

  • CPT 97161 — PT Evaluation
    • Aetna: $99.02
    • Premera: $133.65
    • Moda: $301.00
  • CPT 97110 — Therapeutic Exercise (15 min)
    • Aetna: $58.10
    • Premera: $47.85
    • Moda: $87.40
  • CPT 97140 — Manual Therapy (15 min)
    • Aetna: $53.78
    • Premera: $44.00
    • Moda: $80.38
  • Sample Size
    • Aetna: 391 providers
    • Premera: 1,008 providers
    • Moda: 22 providers

Analysis limited to three major payers and may not reflect rates from all available insurance options in Anchorage, Alaska.

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Aetna offers the most competitive rates for physical therapy evaluation services (CPT 97161) at $99.02, making them significantly more affordable than Moda's rate of $301.00. However, Premera offers the lowest rates for both therapeutic exercise (CPT 97110) at $47.85 and manual therapy (CPT 97140) at $44.00. The substantial difference in Moda's pricing may reflect their smaller provider network in Anchorage, Alaska, with only 22 contracted providers compared to Premera's 1,008.

Why do rates vary so much?

Physical therapy rates in Anchorage vary so much because:

  • Each insurance company negotiates different rates with providers, leading to wide differences in costs.
  • Smaller provider networks (like Moda) may pay clinics higher rates to attract participation, while larger networks (like Premera) negotiate lower rates.
  • Different CPT codes pay different amounts based on the service's complexity.

In short, rates reflect insurance negotiations, network size, Alaska’s higher medical costs, and service complexity.

What should you expect to pay without insurance?

Alaska Statute 18.23.400 requires healthcare providers to publish their standard charges for common procedures. These rates typically represent the full cost of services when insurance is not used.

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‍Select Physical Therapy Providers in Anchorage, Alaska

Empower Physical Therapy publishes transparent pricing for evaluations at $225.00 for CPT 97161, while Runners' Edge Alaska charges $350.00 for evaluations but offers competitive rates for therapeutic exercise at $105.00 and manual therapy at $95.00. All For Kids Pediatric Therapy offers standardized evaluation rates of $260.00 and therapeutic exercises at $90.00 for their specialized pediatric services in Anchorage, Alaska.

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Based on our research, several Anchorage physical therapy providers have implemented online rate transparency in compliance with Alaska law AS 18.23.400. Patients should contact providers directly to request Good Faith Estimates, which are legally required to be provided within specific timeframes.

How can you get accurate cost estimates for physical therapy in Anchorage?

The most reliable way to determine your physical therapy costs is to request a Good Faith Estimate from your chosen provider before treatment begins. Under Alaska Statute 18.23.400, providers must provide these estimates within ten days after receiving a request for non-emergency healthcare services.

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This Alaska requirement differs from the federal Good Faith Estimate requirements under the No Surprises Act, which apply to uninsured and self-pay patients with different timelines: within one business day if scheduled 3–9 days in advance, or within three business days if scheduled 10 or more days in advance. Alaska's law provides a longer response timeframe but applies more broadly to all patients requesting estimates.

Get in Touch

For Patients: If you can't find the pricing information you need or require help understanding your physical therapy costs, contact Fuse, we'd be happy to help.

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For Providers: If you need help to provide transparent billing estimates and GFEs to patients, or want to see how your rates compare with peers, contact Fuse.

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Disclaimer
The rate information presented in this article is derived from publicly available Machine Readable Files (MRFs) provided by insurance payers. This analysis focuses on select insurers and will not reflect rates from all available insurance options. While Fuse makes every effort to provide accurate and current information, healthcare pricing can change frequently, and individual circumstances may affect actual costs. This information should not be considered a guarantee of specific pricing. Patients should always contact their healthcare providers directly to request Good Faith Estimates and verify current rates before receiving treatment.

FAQs

Is physical therapy covered by insurance in Alaska?

Yes, most insurance plans in Alaska cover physical therapy, including major providers like Premera, Aetna, Moda, Cigna and TRICARE. Some plans may require a doctor’s referral or prior authorization.

How much does a physical therapy evaluation cost in Anchorage?

When using insurance, physical therapy evaluations (CPT 97161) in Anchorage, Alaska, range from $99.02 with Aetna to $301.00 with Moda Health Plan among the three major payers analyzed, with an overall median of $138.01. This initial appointment typically takes 60-90 minutes and includes assessment of your condition and treatment planning.

How much does therapeutic exercise cost in Anchorage?

When using insurance, manual therapy treatments (CPT 97140), including massage therapy, range from $45.45 to $81.00 depending on your insurance provider among the three major payers analyzed, with an overall median cost of $53.78 in Anchorage, Alaska.

How much does manual (massage) therapy cost in Anchorage?

When using insurance, manual therapy treatments (CPT 97140), including massage therapy, range from $45.45 to $81.00 depending on your insurance provider among the three major payers analyzed, with an overall median cost of $53.78 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Which physical therapy insurance offers the best rates in Anchorage?

Based on our analysis of three major insurers, Aetna offers the lowest evaluation costs at $99.02 for CPT 97161, while Premera provides the most competitive rates for treatment services (CPT 97110 and 97140) in Anchorage, Alaska.

What should I expect to pay out-of-pocket for PT with insurance?

Out-of-pocket costs vary by plan. You can expect to pay a copay of $20–$50 per visit, or a co-insurance, plus any deductible. Using in-network clinics usually means lower costs versus out-of-network providers. You can check with your insurance and clinic for specifics.

Can I get physical therapy without a doctor's referral in Alaska?t do you mean you can check my negotiated rates?

Alaska allows direct access to physical therapy services, meaning you can typically receive treatment without a physician referral, though insurance coverage requirements will vary.

How many physical therapy sessions will I need?

The number of sessions depends on your condition. 6–8 sessions for common injuries is to be expected. Chronic issues might require 12–18 sessions, and post-surgical therapy often involves 2–3 visits per week for at least 6 weeks. Your physical therapist will personalize your treatment plan as you progress.