Private Pay vs. Insurance (and Medicaid vs. Private): Choosing Your Payer Mix

Your payer mix — private pay, commercial insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or a blend — is one of the biggest decisions you'll make, because it shapes both your revenue and who can access your care. In short: private pay usually pays the most per session and is simplest to run, insurance reaches far more clients but pays less and adds admin, and Medicaid reaches the people with the fewest options. Here's how to weigh them.