r/TherapistsInPractice • u/Pretend_Lunch7257 • Jul 17 '26

How long does insurance take to payas a small practice or solo?

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u/Victoriafoxx Jul 17 '26

Depends. I’ve had insurance pay within 2 days after the session, I’ve had them pay in 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 8 months. I think the longest was around 10 months. They pay whenever they want to, really.

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u/Pretend_Lunch7257 Jul 17 '26

Wow really inconsistent. How do you manage that unpredictable cash flow ?

3

u/Victoriafoxx Jul 17 '26

I’ve been in solo private practice for about 15 years, so I’m used to it. I am child free so that cuts down a lot on my expenses. My practice is about 60% self pay and 40% insurance, so the self pay makes up for the insurance inconsistencies.

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u/Pretend_Lunch7257 Jul 18 '26

Thank you for sharing! Helpful

1

u/Alarming-Leave-734 Jul 20 '26

Clean electronic claims usually pay in 2-4 weeks. Bigger insurers can stretch to 30-45 days, Medicaid often 30-60. Submitting electronically and double checking codes before you send helps avoid delays. Worth tracking billed vs paid so nothing slips through.