Therapy is a valuable investment in yourself. Paying for it shouldn’t break the bank or be a hassle.
I’m here to help you navigate the confusing process.
You’ve likely spent hours looking for and finding the right therapist. You may have even noticed that many therapists don’t take insurance or have lengthy waitlists. Now you’re wondering how to pay for therapy and if you can actually afford it. This is where many people get stuck or settle for less than an ideal fit for a therapist because they feel constrained by the insurance plan they have or lack insurance altogether.
My mission is to make mental healthcare as accessible and affordable as possible. I feel passionate about educating my prospective clients on how to access the resources they may not even be aware they have at their disposal to make therapy affordable.
You have options —whether you are fully insured or not insured at all. Click below to find out more:
I’m a fee-for-service, out-of-network therapist. That means I don’t have contracts with any insurance plans and don’t submit claims on behalf of my clients. You pay the fee upfront and get reimbursed directly by your insurance plan based on the monthly statements I provide for you. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be eligible for reimbursements of up to 50-80% of the total session cost.
You have insurance, but not sure if you can get reimbursed.
Easy Steps to Find Out if You’re Eligible:
Contact Your Insurance Company: You can find the customer service phone number on your insurance card.
See If You Have Out-Of-Network Benefits: Ask if your plan includes out-of-network benefits for mental health care.
Ask If You Have a Deductible Before Coverage Starts: Ask what your out-of-network mental health services deductible is and what amount you’ll have to pay out of pocket before your policy starts to reimburse you.
Find Out How Much Your Plan Will Reimburse: Ask your policy’s maximum allowed amount for the mental health service code 90834 and what percentage your policy pays. Ask for that percentage for a master level therapist (social worker, professional counselor, etc.).
Use This Information To Understand What Therapy Will Cost You: The percent of the maximum allowed is what you’d receive as a reimbursement after you have met your deductible for the year, if applicable. I provide an example below.
*Note that HMO plans, TRICARE, MEDICARE, and MEDICAID do not reimburse for out-of-network health costs.
Here’s an Example of What Reimbursement May Look Like:
In this example, the plan covers 80% of the out-of-network bill. Theoretically, a $165 session will cost $33. However, insurance companies usually have an allowable amount they are willing to pay. If the allowable amount is $125 you will receive 80% of $125 and pay the difference. Your final cost will be $65 after reimbursement.
I Make the Process Simple for You:
I will provide you with a receipt for each session called a “superbill.” You can submit these receipts to your insurance company electronically for reimbursement. These bills will have all the information (e.g., diagnostic code) your insurance requires to reimburse you.
If you would like some help with this process I recommend using Reimbursify or The Super Bill. These are both great resources that make submitting claims a breeze.
Below are links to some of the major insurance plan websites with instructions for submitting claims.
Finances should not be a barrier to accessing mental healthcare. If you don’t have an insurance plan, or if your insurance plan does not provide affordable in- or out-of-network mental health benefits (e.g., high deductible or copay rates), you may be eligible for a reduced rate to work with me. Eligibility is determined on your household income level. There are two ways I work with clients with financial constraints:
I’m an Open Path Collective provider. Open Path Collective is a nonprofit organization that links therapists willing to offer their services at a reduced rate for uninsured/underinsured clients with limited household income. As a client, you pay a one-time nominal fee to join the Open Path Collective and we get started working together right away.
If you do not wish to go through the Open Path Collective or don’t qualify, I can work with you directly to come up with a fair rate that works for your current financial situation.
Don’t hesitate to ask me questions on our free consult call!