Therapy is a powerful and effective way of helping you manage and alleviate the painful emotional and mental issues you may be dealing with. But it can be challenging to find a therapist that takes your insurance. Usually, it will require a person to do some research and legwork. And that can feel completely overwhelming if you are trying to manage depression or anxiety.
Here are some tips to help you find a therapist who takes your insurance so you can get the help you need as quickly as possible.
Speak with Your Insurance Provider
Your first step should be to speak with your insurance provider to fully understand what services they offer before looking for a therapist that accepts your insurance. Each provider will have different things they may or may not cover.
For instance, The Affordable Care Act requires insurance plans in the individual marketplace and small groups to cover mental health services. And typically, large employers and Medicaid plans will cover at least a portion of mental health services. So you’ll absolutely want to get on the phone with your provider to understand what is and isn’t covered.
Here are some questions you may want to ask:
- Is pre-approval or a referral from my PC or provider required to see a therapist?
- Do they provide any coverage for out-of-network therapists?
- What is the reimbursement process after a visit?
- Do they cover all types of mental health professionals?
Determine Your Copay
You’ll also want to understand what your copay will be. Many insurance plans will charge you the same copay you would pay on a visit to your regular doctor. Having said that, the coverage you have for mental health will vary depending on your specific plan.
Read through the literature you received when first signing up to find this information. If you can’t find it in your paperwork, get on the phone with your provider and ask how much your copay will be.
Use a Special Search Engine
Once you know what your provider covers, you can use a search engine, like the one provided by Psychology Today. Start by searching for therapists using your zip code. Once those results are returned, you can then use the filters along the top to search for the therapists in your area that take your specific insurance.
You’ll see you can also do a search for therapists based on the types of therapy they offer and specific mental health issues and more.
I hope this short guide assists you in finding the help you need as easily and quickly as possible. And if the whole topic of health insurance still has you confused (Because boy they don’t make it easy!), then download my free guide “Understanding Your Mental Health Insurance.”