There is no specific limit to the number of physical therapy sessions Medicare will cover or how much Medicare will pay toward physical therapy services.

Medicare will cover all physical therapy that a healthcare professional considers medically necessary.

However, there are some guidelines around coverage that healthcare professionals must follow.

Before receiving coverage for physical therapy, a person must get a referral from a qualified healthcare professional. They also need a certified treatment regimen.

Before 2018, there were limits to how much Medicare would cover for therapy services each year. This is no longer the case.

Now, after Medicare has covered $2,410 of physical therapy services, further physical therapy requires documentation explaining that the services continue to be medically necessary.

When the total reaches $3,000, it initiates a medical review process, which is designed to prevent unnecessary payments. However, a person can continue receiving physical therapy after reaching this threshold, provided the review deems the treatment appropriate.

While Medicare does not place limits on how many physical therapy sessions a person may receive, it offers guidelines on eligibility.

These include the following:

  • Physical therapy services must be complex enough to require the care or supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
  • A person must be in the care of a doctor and have a written treatment plan that is “reasonable and necessary.”
  • The treatment plan must be aligned with accepted medical standards. A person’s condition should be expected to improve significantly or be effectively maintained with treatment.
  • Physical therapy services need to be administered according to the details of a written, physician certified treatment plan. It should outline goals, procedures, modalities, frequency, duration, etc.
  • A healthcare professional needs to document a person’s functional limitations in a way that is objective and measurable.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) does not list the specific cost of physical therapy on its website. However, a person can expect to have certain out-of-pocket costs.

Outpatient physical therapy services receive coverage under Medicare Part B. In 2025, the annual deductible for Part B is $257. After reaching this amount, a person will pay a coinsurance of 20% of the Medicare-approved cost of physical therapy.

The amount will depend on various factors, including:

  • whether the physical therapist accepts Medicare
  • what type of facility a person visits
  • whether a person has other insurance coverage

For a better idea of how much physical therapy services may cost, a person can speak with their physician or physical therapist.