Dr. Samantha O'Brien & Dr. Amy Fetch | The Real Value of Cash-Based Care for Women & Families

TL;DR: The cash-based care model is giving providers the freedom to show up more fully—and patients the chance to be seen, heard, and healed. If you’ve ever felt like traditional healthcare wasn’t working for you, this episode is for you. Whether you're in the postpartum trenches or navigating chronic symptoms that no one can explain, there are providers who want to help—without the insurance middleman.

The Real Value of Cash-Based Care for Women & Families

What happens when healthcare puts people over policies?

In Episode 141 of The Mama Making Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Samantha O’Brien of The Hive Wellness Center and Dr. Amy Fetch of Chicago Mama PT to unpack the cash-based care model—and why it’s becoming a lifeline for women and families navigating postpartum healing, pelvic floor therapy, and beyond.

This episode isn’t just for practitioners—it’s for any parent who has felt dismissed, rushed, or unsupported by our traditional, insurance-driven healthcare system.

From Frustration to Freedom: Why Providers Are Ditching Insurance

Both Dr. O’Brien and Dr. Fetch share openly about what led them to step away from the insurance model. In short: they wanted to serve their clients better.

They were tired of:

• Insurance companies dictating session length and treatment plans

• Limitations that didn’t account for the full picture of a client’s needs

• Patients falling through the cracks—especially postpartum women

By moving to a cash-based model, these providers created more space for personalized care. That means longer sessions, deeper conversations, and the ability to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms that fit neatly into an insurance code.

What Is “Cash-Based Care,” Really?

Spoiler: it’s not just for the ultra-wealthy.

Cash-based care means that instead of billing insurance, the provider charges a set fee that the client pays directly. In many cases, clients can still submit superbills to insurance for partial reimbursement—or use HSA/FSA funds.

But the biggest shift?Providers can actually treat the root cause, without red tape. And that’s where healing really happens.

Women Deserve More Than 6 Weeks

One of the most powerful themes in this conversation is just how deeply the current system fails new moms. The traditional “six-week checkup” model leaves too many postpartum people without ongoing care—and without answers when something feels off.

Dr. Fetch shares how pelvic floor dysfunction, scar tissue issues, or even emotional trauma from birth can linger far beyond six weeks. And Dr. O’Brien emphasizes how holistic, functional care (informed by the whole body, nervous system, and life context) can’t be crammed into a 15-minute visit.

Cash-based care allows for:

• Longer visits with room for education, therapy, and emotional processing

• Individualized treatment not limited by diagnosis codes

• Collaborative care between pelvic PTs, nutritionists, doulas, and mental health pros

It’s not just about getting care—it’s about being seen.

Beyond Postpartum: Supporting the Whole Family

What’s often missed in conversations about maternal healthcare is the ripple effect. When a mom is supported, the whole family benefits.

Dr. O’Brien and Dr. Fetch both stress that investing in care—whether it’s physical therapy, coaching, or holistic healing—isn’t selfish. It’s essential.

They share stories of clients who’ve returned to movement, reclaimed their energy, and rebuilt trust in their bodies thanks to this more empowered model of care.

And if you're wondering: “Is this worth paying for out of pocket?”—this episode offers some compelling insight. As they explain, the costs of ignoring or deferring care can be far higher in the long run.

What This Means for the Future of Women’s Health

This conversation was also a window into what healthcare could be:

• Person-centered

• Preventative

• Collaborative

• Trauma-informed

It’s not perfect, and it’s not accessible to everyone—yet. But cash-based providers are challenging the system from the outside, creating spaces where patients are respected, listened to, and supported as whole people.

Connect with Our Guests

Dr. Samantha O’Brien

The Hive Wellness Center Website: https://www.thehivewellnesscenter.com

Instagram: @thehivewellnesscenter

Dr. Amy Fetch

Chicago Mama PT Website: https://www.chicagomamapt.com

Instagram: @chicagomamapt

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