Folks usually think what happens in therapy stays in therapy. Not when insurance is involved! When you use insurance, therapists are required to provide your diagnosis and treatment notes to your insurance company in order to get paid.

In order to utilize your insurance for therapy your therapist is required to diagnosis you to get paid.  Some folks seek therapy for personal growth and exploration, not because they are depressed or anxious or have a serious mental illness.  Well in the eyes of your insurance company, that’s not a valid reason for them to cover the cost of your therapy. 

When therapists take insurance, they are required to use treatment methods that are covered by your plan. Meaning the therapist has less say in how to treat you based on your specific and individual needs.

The going rate for a great therapist in most major cities is between $150-$350 per session. Most insurance companies pay therapists between $60-$110 per session. This is a fraction of what therapists receive from private pay clients and it requires a lot more paperwork and time to get paid by insurance companies. Submitting insurance claims is time-consuming and confusing as is getting approved to be on insurance panels in the first place.