Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Kind of Insurance Plan Do You Have?What If I Can’t Afford My Deductible?Does Insurance Cover Online Therapy?How Do I Find an In-Network Therapist?How Does My Therapist Bill My Health Insurance?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Kind of Insurance Plan Do You Have?
What If I Can’t Afford My Deductible?
Does Insurance Cover Online Therapy?
How Do I Find an In-Network Therapist?
How Does My Therapist Bill My Health Insurance?
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Health insurance can be confusing, and it can be difficult to know exactly what your plan covers. Even those with good insurance might be hesitant to seek health services when you are unsure what will or will not be covered.
Does health insurance cover the cost of therapy? The short answer is: it depends. Most plans in the United States cover mental health similarly to how they cover other medical costs, meaning that sessions could be billed with a co-pay or go toward your deductible.
So, what do you need to know about health insurance when it comes topaying for therapy?
The 8 Best Online Therapy Services that Accept Insurance, Tried and Tested
Most insurance plans either have a co-pay or deductible. A co-pay means you pay a set amount for each appointment, and your insurance covers the rest. A deductible plan means that you pay all your medical expenses up to a certain amount, at which time insurance starts covering a specific percent of your costs.
If your plan has a deductible, you will want to know how much each session will cost you before your insurance coverage starts. Most therapists post information about their rates on their website, but your insurance plan might have a negotiated rate with in-network providers. This means that your rate per session is discounted.
Options available to you depend onwhich company is your health insurer. Companies vary on what plans they offer and what services they cover. Since many people are insured through their employer, you might not get to choose which insurance company covers you and your family. Still, if you own your own business or purchase privately, you’ll want to research your options before committing to a plan.
The cost of therapy varies significantly,with many providers in the United States charging between $65 to $200 per session. The cost depends on your location, the therapist’s training, and any specialized care you might need.
Some insurance plans have very high deductibles, and paying this amount may be a challenge. Your therapist might offer affordable payment plans to allow you to pay over a longer time period. Communicate with your therapist, and ask for information about these options.
Maybe you cannot afford your deductible even with a flexible payment plan. In this case, you might choose not to use your insurance and instead find a therapist who offerssliding scale feesbased on your income and ability to pay. Since your therapist will not bill your insurance, these payments will not go towards your deductible for the year, but they can make therapy services more affordable.
Many people preferonline therapy(referred to as telehealth or telemental health) to traditional in-person therapy for a number of reasons, including:
Historically, insurance has not always covered telehealth services for therapy. However, over the last few years, many insurers (such as Amwell)are covering this servicefor in-network providers. Some online therapy companies, like BetterHelp, still do not accept insurance, but increasingly, more online services are now doing so. The company’s website will tell you whether or not you can use your insurance to pay for sessions.
Telehealth is an excellent option for many people, but some might prefer in-person services. Although many people benefit from telehealth services, you can decidewhich type of servicebest fits your needs.
How to Choose the Best Type of Therapy For You
You can also call your insurance company or visit the company’s website and ask for the names of therapists in their network. Although the company typically will not have information on the therapist’s specialization, this is a good starting point.
Is the therapist that specializes in your issue out-of-network? Sometimes, insurance companies limit how many therapists they will accept on their panel at a time, and therapists who want to accept your plan are unable to. You can call the company and ask them to panel more therapists.
Prior to starting therapy, you can call your insurance company to ask about coverage for therapy. Since “therapy” is a broad term, it helps to ask if specific billing codes are covered. When it comes to therapy services, the most commonly used billing codes are:
Your therapist should be able to provide information on which billing codes they use in their sessions, and you can confirm with your insurance company what is covered and if there are any limits to the number of sessions allowed.
Insurance coverage is confusing, so knowing what questions to ask and how to navigate the system is helpful in accessing services.
Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.
Get Help Now
We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.
Hannah Owens, LMSW
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