“The cost of therapy will range significantly depending on the expert you’re seeing, whether you are from an urban or less-populated area, and whether your insurance provides coverage,” says Lynn Bufka, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and the associate chief of practice transformation at the American Psychological Association (APA), where she works on healthcare policy issues and improving mental health care delivery. Price can definitely be a barrier for individuals, she adds. The variations in cost will depend in part on these factors:
Location Anticipate paying higher fees if your therapist is practicing in a city with higher living costs, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, or New York, rather than a smaller town or less-expensive region, according to Liz Morrison, LCSW, a New York City–based psychotherapist and the owner of Liz Morrison Therapy. Her New York City clinic, which specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), charges $225 per session. On the other hand, Lynn Linde, EdD, the chief knowledge officer at the American Counseling Association, charges $125 per session in Baltimore, where she practices.Type of practitioner and their expertise Count on therapists with extensive training or niche areas of specialization to charge more than their counterparts who are establishing their practice and building up their clientele. Dr. Bufka notes that the type of practitioner you work with will also affect the cost — counselors and social workers may charge less than psychologists and psychiatrists. Typically, providers with more advanced degrees or education will be the ones charging more. According to the life insurance provider Northwestern Mutual, some psychiatrists, who are medical doctors and can diagnose mental disorders and prescribe medication, charge as much as $300 to $500 for an initial assessment.Online versus in-person therapy Subscription services like BetterHelp or Talkspace may be more affordable than in-person therapy with a provider. BetterHelp charges a $60 to $90 weekly subscription fee, which includes a real-time therapy session done via videoconferencing and the ability to message your therapist anytime.Setting Group therapy will usually be far cheaper than one-on-one sessions. Morrison says a single session of group therapy can start as low as $50 to $75. Dr. Linde says not to assume you’re getting lower-quality or less-effective care if you opt for group therapy. “You’re in a microcosm of individuals with similar kinds of issues supporting each other and finding ways of changing behaviors together,” she explains.
Whether your insurance plan covers part or all of the cost of therapy for mental health depends on your provider and your specific plan.
Mental Health Parity Laws Require Insurance Reimbursement for Treatment of Mental Illness, but Not All Mental Health Care
But note that this mental health parity legislation requires coverage only for clinically diagnosed mental health disorders. That means that if you’re seeking therapy for mental or emotional health without a diagnosis, your insurance isn’t legally required to pay for it, Bufka says.
“Health insurance is predicated on treating a health condition, so when you’re billing your insurance provider, it must show what the diagnosis is and what service was provided,” Bufka says. Some insurance providers and plans may still cover preventive mental services (or therapy without a clinical diagnosis), but the only way to know is to check your specific plan and policy details. It’s worth noting that an additional barrier to effective mental health care coverage by insurance companies is inadequate provider networks. If there’s a shortage of mental health providers who are “in network” (providers your insurance company will reimburse you for seeing), it’s going to be challenging for you to get good mental health care.
How Do I Find Out if My Insurance Covers Therapy?
To find out if your insurance provider will cover the therapy and practitioner you’re interested in, you’ll likely need to do some research before your first appointment. You can:
Contact your insurance provider. For starters, pick up the phone and call your insurance company to ask for detailed information on what’s covered, a list of approved therapists or mental health services in your neighborhood, and how you can make a claim, Bufka says. Your provider’s website may have an online portal where you can see what services are on offer and connect with therapists who are in network.Contact your therapist. Check your therapist’s website or contact them directly to see which insurance plans they accept and if they’ll submit claims directly to your insurance company (or if you need to do it after your appointment), Morrison says. You may learn at this step that the therapist you were hoping to work with is not in network and doesn’t accept insurance at all. Note: That doesn’t necessarily mean your insurance company won’t cover some or all of the costs of your care, but if the provider doesn’t work directly with insurance companies, you may be on the hook for paying for service up front and then sending the necessary paperwork to your insurance company (if your insurer will reimburse you), Morrison says. Consider contacting your employer’s human resources department. If your health insurance is provided by your employer, you may be able to get started by contacting your HR department. In some cases, they may have an employee assistance program to connect you with the resources you need. But remember, whether or not you choose to disclose to your employer (or your HR department) that you are seeking therapy for mental health is up to you. And know that you are never legally required to disclose a psychiatric issue to an employer (unless you are requesting a job accommodation).
