Finding a licensed therapist that
you fit well with can be a trying experience. And sometimes, the therapist you
think is best for you is not on your insurance plan. Now you have some decisions
to make: Do you shop for a therapist through your insurance and hope you find a
good fit quickly and then only pay your co-pay for each session? Or do you
choose Fee for Service therapy? This is where you pay out of pocket a set fee
for each session (the service). For some people, the ability to choose any
therapist, not have a limited amount of sessions, and have the added
confidentiality you get when you pay out of pocket (no forms or reports sent to
insurance agencies) is worth the out of pocket expense. For others, the session
fees dont fit into their budget. This is where a little research can save you a
lot of time and money. Many insurance plans will reimburse their clients a
percentage of out-of-pocket expenses. Some reimburse up to 80%. If you have a
$30 co-pay, it would cost you the same amount to see a therapist that charges
$150 a session if youre being reimbursed at 80% as it would to see an
in-network provider and pay the co-pay. You can call your insurance company and
ask what the policy is for seeing out-of-network providers. And fee-for-service
therapists may have more time for their clients since they spend less time on
the paperwork involved in insurance billing. There are many options available to
you when seeking a good therapist. Good luck!
