It’s not easy finding a therapist. You’ve got to search for someone who is licensed, has experience treating your particular issue, and someone who you feel comfortable opening up to. Many know the frustration of finding someone who ticks all of these boxes, only to realize that they don’t take insurance. The truth is, roughly one third of therapists in this country do not accept insurance.
So what gives?
Why Many Therapists Don’t Accept Insurance
There are actually quite a few reasons why some therapists choose not accept insurance from patients:
Low Reimbursement Rates
The average cost of a therapy session around the country is typically between $100 to $200. With insurance, you may have a copay of $20 – $50. You may assume your therapist will bill the insurance company and be reimbursed for the rest of the money. But often insurance companies will reimburse for half the amount or less. It can be quite difficult for a therapist to make an actual living wage with such low reimbursement rates.
Hassles
Another deterrent for therapists is the hassle of interacting with insurance companies. As you can imagine, there are far more pleasant things to do with one’s time. Insurance companies often require therapists to continually provide documentation to justify treatment of their patients. And, because mental health outcomes can be far more difficult to measure than physical ones, it can be harder to prove to insurance companies that care is essential.
Supply and Demand
Far more people are seeking mental health therapy. We have actually seen a dramatic increase in new patients since the Covid pandemic. And what happens is, with so many patients willing to pay out of pocket, there is simply less of a need for therapists to deal with the hassles and headaches of insurance.
Finding Affordable Mental Health Care
If you are on a budget, all is not lost. There are ways to work with a great therapist and not break the bank.
We offer a number of fee options for care to meet different budgets. Our therapists, that are a part of our GC Academy, completing their supervised internship program, are also available for a fee that is similar to what you would pay as a deductable with an insurance provider. We also provide an option to seek reimbursement for your services through your insurance provider which is called a “superbill”. So instead of accepting insurance we provide you with the information you need to be reimbursed directly by your insurance provider.
If you’d like to explore treatment options, please give us a call. We offer online and in person sessions and can often work with people of all different budgets. Learn more on our Mental Health links page https://getcenteredcounselingstl.com/mental-health-links/ and on our blog https://getcenteredcounselingstl.com/using-insurance-to-pay-for-therapy-is-it-worth-the-risk/
SOURCES:
https://www.heartmatterstherapy.com/post/5-reasons-why-some-therapists-do-not-accept-insurance