Deciding you are ready to go to therapy is a brave first step. As you prepare to begin your therapy journey, you may be wondering how to make sure your therapy is covered by your insurance or exactly how to find a therapist that accepts your insurance plan.
Finding a therapist or mental health professional who is right for your needs and accepts your insurance can be daunting. Use this guide to get answers to your questions and help you take the right next steps.
Reach out to your insurance company
Understanding your insurance benefits is important to making sure you connect with a therapist who is covered by your plan. It’s also important to connect with a therapist who is in-network with your plan to help you further save on costs.
In-network providers are doctors, other health care professionals (such as licensed therapists), and hospitals that have a contract with your insurance plan and agree to accept your insurance’s approved amount for their services. What this means is that you will pay less out of pocket when you see an in-network provider compared to an out-of-network provider (a provider who is not contracted with your insurance plan).
Most insurers have directories that provide a list of mental health professionals who are covered by your plan. It can be helpful to reach out to your insurance company to have a representative talk you through the directory and your options for in-network therapists. They’ll confirm if a provider in the directory is in-network, and also answer any questions you may have about specific coverage details for each provider — such as how much of a session’s cost may be covered by your plan and how much you may be expected to pay out of pocket for each session. Your insurance representative will also be able to give you the contact information for covered, in-network providers.
If your insurance is provided to you through your employer, you can also talk to your employer’s human resources representative for guidance.
See if you have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) may be included in your employee benefits and can make accessing mental health care more affordable. Unlike health insurance plans, EAPs typically offer employees a certain number of free sessions before they have to pay with their insurance benefits or out-of-pocket.
You may need more sessions than what’s offered by your employer’s EAP. If this is the case, you may be referred to another mental health professional to continue sessions. You’ll want to talk to your HR representative to understand if and how those sessions are covered, and to learn more about the specific services offered by your EAP.
What if my insurance doesn’t cover therapy?
Insurers aren’t required by law to offer mental health benefits. If your insurance plan doesn’t offer coverage for mental health care, rest assured, you still have other options for care.
You can seek care from a Federally Qualified Health Center in your area, which is a community-based health care center that is federally-funded. You can also reach out to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI). Their toll-free helpline provides free information and support. Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), text "HelpLine" to 62640, or email NAMI at [email protected]. They can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 AM – 10 PM EST.
SonderMind makes it easy
SonderMind can help take the hassle out of connecting to a therapist or mental health professional in your area who accepts your insurance. SonderMind therapists are in-network with a variety of insurance plans in the states we operate in.
We do the work for you — just tell us a bit about what you’re looking for in a therapist, where you’re located, and who you have for insurance, and we’ll connect you with a licensed therapist who meets your needs and accepts your insurance. If your insurance doesn’t cover therapy, SonderMind offers self-pay options. Get started connecting to a SonderMind therapist here.
SonderMind can also help answer any questions you have regarding connecting to a SonderMind therapist who accepts your insurance. Just call us at (866) 298-8341, Monday - Friday, 5 AM - 7 PM MST, and Saturday, 8 AM - 5 PM MST. Or, reach out to us at [email protected]. We can help you figure out the next best steps to get you the mental health support you’re looking for.
