Using Insurance vs Self-pay and Filing Claim at Home?

I have a high deductible plan and I'm starting a PT treatment that requires weekly office visits for several months. The Dr. I'm seeing accepts insurance or alternatively offers a "Self-pay" AKA "cash based" pricing option.

If I use my insurance than the cost per visit increases significantly but my health insurance "negotiates" the bill down. Ultimately the negotiated cost will still be higher than the self-pay cost, but the payment will apply to my deductible.

If I don't use insurance (self-pay pricing) than the cost of each visit is less but the amount paid does not apply to my deductible.

Can I pay the lesser "self-pay" office cost at the doctors office and then file the claim myself directly with the insurance company? This allows me to pay the lesser cost per visit while still having the cost apply to my high deductible plan.

Does anyone do this? Does the insurance companies allow this? Would the Dr. office take issue with this?

Thanks.

submitted by /u/IanProton123
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