Everything You Need To Know About Online Therapy and Insurance
The average cost of in-person mental health counseling in the US is $100 to $200 for individuals and $175 to $275 for couples. For many, these costs present a barrier to receiving support. However, as mental health advocacy grows and more people understand counseling benefits, more options are opening up for people to manage counseling costs and get behavioral coverage.
For many, online therapy can be cheaper and more convenient than in-person options. However, for those with insurance, barriers can arise with coverage and knowing whether their plan pays for telehealth services. Learning more about the various ins and outs of online therapy pricing and insurance can help you decide if these services would be within your budget.
Does insurance cover online therapy?
Online behavioral health benefits operate like their offline counterparts, providing clients to participate in online therapy sessions with licensed therapists authorized by their plan. The coverage offered by insurance companies for therapy can be complicated. Not all plans cover therapy, and even if coverage is offered, it may exclude online therapy. For example, one-on-one practice therapists working online must still apply to accept insurance from various insurance companies. Not all practice therapists are on the same panels or take insurance. In addition, online platforms may not accept insurance due to billing policies.
How much does out-of-pocket online therapy cost?
The average cost of therapy depends on where it occurs. Factors that affect the prices may include geographical location, education, experience, concurrent conditions, whether it's a one-on-one or public practice, and any specialties the therapist has.
Mental health clients living in major cities or states with a high cost-of-living index may expect to pay more for online mental health care services in their state than behavioral health clients in those with a lower cost of living.
Online therapy sessions through an online platform often range from $35 to $90 per session and provide unlimited messaging. Sessions can be via chat, video, or phone call. With an affordable cost, many people can get therapy for a fraction of the price of a traditional session. In addition, couples can use an online platform like Regain to pay $65 to $90 a session, split between two people.
Taking part in therapy sessions online can eliminate frustrating commutes, lower gas costs, and offer a safer-seeming option for those with social anxiety or immobility-related concerns. It can be challenging to find a therapist that meets all of your needs within one city, and online therapy can expand your reach to your entire state and providers outside of your state licensed to practice where you are.
How do you pay for counseling?
There are generally three categories of counseling costs, including the following.
Free or low-cost counseling
Free or low-cost therapy is an income-based payment option that provides low, reduced-cost, or free therapy to income-qualified mental health clients. Free or low-cost therapy can often be offered through organizations like non-profits. In some cases, free therapy may be available to individuals through a student health care plan at a university or an individual's employment mental health plan. Free or low-cost therapy can encompass various types of services. If you're struggling to find resources in your area, consider dialing 211 for support. The 211 line is a national hotline to help low-income individuals and those in crisis find financial support, food resources, housing, and mental health help.
Sliding fee scales
Sliding-fee scale therapy provides services based on client income. Sliding scale therapists don't charge clients the same standard rate and may offer therapy at a reduced rate compared to the average cost of treatment. If you’re interested in working with a therapist, but do not have insurance or are not in-network with the provider, it may be worthwhile to inquire about sliding scale pricing options.
Standard counseling rates
Standard counseling rates include standard out-of-pocket fees for offline and online therapy providers. Often, these rates depend on the coding the therapist uses for the session, which depends on the time of the session. Online therapists often offer lower fees due to not having to pay for extra costs like office rent, parking, or transportation.
What happens in an in-office session?
When you schedule an in-office therapy session with your chosen provider, you may be asked to wait a few days or weeks. Some providers have waiting lists, whereas others may take time to get you on the schedule with other clients.
During your initial consultation, your therapist may ask you questions about your lifestyle, symptoms, and health history and have you complete questionnaires for their records. They might also describe their approach and start to develop a treatment plan unique to your needs. Some therapists diagnose clients after a few sessions, whereas others may avoid diagnosis to focus on treatment.
The two of you can work together to develop a treatment plan comprising realistic goals and sessions that fit your current lifestyle. Your therapist may suggest incorporating various types of therapy and strategies into your treatment plan. When you agree on a plan for future sessions, you can decide whether to keep sessions in person or online and set future appointments. Many in-office therapy sessions last between 45 minutes to an hour and are billed as an out-of-pocket expense or covered by behavioral health insurance plans.
How does online therapy work?
Online therapy encompasses various virtual therapy methods, including mobile therapy, telepsychology, and telemedicine. Online therapy sessions follow the same protocols as traditional in-office therapy but are done from a distance and come at a different cost.
When mental health clients choose distance therapy online, they can set up an initial consultation with a therapist from home to develop a treatment plan, discuss concerns, and develop new coping skills. Depending on how online therapy is done, the therapist might use other tools like online worksheets, journaling prompts, or screen during sessions.
Like traditional therapy, therapists often ask clients to adhere to the goals and standards outlined in their treatment plan to achieve recognizable results. Below are four of the ways you might partake in telehealth therapy.
Web therapy
Web therapy involves a client and board-certified or licensed therapist meeting virtually via a therapy platform. Clients and therapists connect via video chat sessions similar to Skype from the comfort and the location of their choosing. Web therapy sessions can often be used for groups, families, couples, and individuals.
A web therapy session may be similar to an in-person session. Meeting with a therapist online can still include techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy and approaches like art activities or roleplay. When you’re trying to find a therapist who practices in-person, you will be limited to providers practicing within your geographic area. If you’re in a rural location, that may limit the types of specialties and modalities available to you. However, when you look for a therapist online, you may be able to access a wide range of therapists in your state who specialize in hundreds of different modalities.
Texting and chat therapy
Online platforms often offer chat therapy. Through these platforms, the client or clients can send messages back and forth with the therapist during an agreed-upon live therapy session. Chat therapy differs from regular messaging in that it is done over a safe chat room and lasts for the duration of the appointment, often 30 to 45 minutes.
Phone therapy
Phone therapy sessions allow therapists to connect with clients over the phone and talk without seeing each other face to face. Through an online therapy platform, the therapist may start the session by prompting the safe service to send a call to the client's phone. They can then talk through a safe phone line. With a one-on-one practice therapist, the therapist may call the client directly or use a video chat platform like Zoom without the video feature.
Online counseling options
Knowing how much counseling costs can be challenging, as pricing varies across the country, depending on many factors. Although online therapy may not offer insurance coverage options, it can be more affordable than some co-pays and paying out of pocket for an in-person provider.
If you're looking for a platform that provides therapists for you, you may benefit from an option like Regain for couples or BetterHelp for individuals. Both platforms offer a match-based system with over 30,000 therapists between them and various specialties of care.
In addition, if you're unsure about the effectiveness of online therapy and why it might be worth the cost, note that studies have found that 71% of participants who try online therapy find it more effective and preferable to in-person counseling.
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Takeaway
Online therapy is often a more affordable option for many clients than in-person therapy. Although many online therapists don't accept health insurance, some do, and there are various options to consider. If you're ready to get started, consider signing up for a platform or contacting a telehealth therapist in your area for further guidance.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Below are a few commonly asked questions on the topic of insurance and online therapy.
What insurance plans cover mental health?
Many plans are required to cover mental health and substance use disorder services. Due to parity laws in the United States, coverage for mental health services can't be more restrictive than coverage for other medical services. In other words, plans which provide coverage for mental health services must be equal to physical health services.
Plans often cover behavior health treatment (counseling and psychotherapy). The Affordable Care Act requires mental health to be included in all individual and small employer plans. However, you might find that there may not be many providers signed up to take your insurance, or many may have wait lists or provide support outside of your area of care.
Look specifically at what your plan offers and speak with potential practitioners regarding how they work with and accept payment through your plan before deciding where to receive your care.
How expensive is counseling with coverage?
Therapy costs can vary depending on the plan you have. When you pay for therapy with coverage, you might pay a co-pay specific to your plan or policy. Your co-pay may fall in the $20-50 range or more.
If your coverage doesn't provide affordable options, you may want to speak with your provider to understand the steps to remedy the situation. Therapists treat clients of all different backgrounds and financial situations; they may be able to provide you with advice and assistance to make the cost of therapy work for you.
Less conventional forms of therapy, like free or low-cost options and online treatment, may be more affordable if your coverage makes it difficult to pay for therapy. Online therapy can also be more flexible and offer benefits your insurance or therapist does not. For example, many insurance plans do not cover couples counseling, whereas online platforms like ReGain offer couples therapy at the same cost as low-cost individual therapy, which can be split between couples.
Do all insurance plans have to cover mental health?
Not all plans on the market cover mental health and not all plans that cover mental health do so in the same way. Some therapists aren't able to accept insurance or have not applied to panels. In these cases, it's not that your insurance doesn't cover therapy; it's that the therapist doesn't accept insurance. Many therapists make lower rates with clients that take insurance, which can be a financial challenge for those with practice costs.
When choosing coverage, consider what type of mental healthcare you're seeking and what other types of services you might use on your plan. Consider whether you're looking for individual, couples, or family therapy and whether the plan offers it.
Is therapy worth the money?
When balancing the cost of living, it can be easy to question how necessary therapy is if the price feels like an obstacle. If you're experiencing mental health challenges, knowing when to reach out for support and how to navigate your symptoms can be challenging. However, therapy can be worth the money; over 41.7 million US adults see a therapist.
Over time, a successful treatment plan may significantly alter your quality of life and provide you with the tools to handle any future challenges or life events. If the costs of therapy and other services are an obstacle to you, you may find it helpful to reach out to a potential therapist to discuss these concerns. Many therapists offer a free or low-cost consultation to discuss your needs and offer insight into how they can support clients.
The benefits of therapy may include better mental health, better emotional control, better handling of emotions and stress, and relief from specific mental illness symptoms. For many, the cost of therapy does not outweigh the need for it. If you're worried about treatment, note that therapy costs depend on many factors. Therapy costs can be manageable, and many online platforms offer financial aid to those who qualify.
Can I buy mental health coverage?
Many options are available for buying plans; some are more friendly regarding mental health than others. You can purchase insurance, and it is often charged monthly.
You may already have mental health services covered if you receive coverage through your employer or government services like Medicare or Medicaid. Government plans in some states offer full coverage of mental health services. In addition, if you are a student, your university might provide you with free mental health services and coverage or a plan paid under your financial aid.
At times, the most affordable plans regarding mental health may be the hardest to work with. Your choices for practitioners and providers may be limited and pre-determined, making it challenging to work with a professional that fits your needs.
You may be able to seek out and find plans offering low-cost and high-quality mental health coverage, but you also may feel limited by the cost of these plans. Online therapy services could be a more affordable option. You can also seek out free or discounted therapy offered in your community by non-profits, schools, or other organizations.
How can I improve my mental health?
Various circumstances can impact mental health, and what works to improve health for one person might not work for another. Often, therapy is a highly effective and researched strategy for improving mental health. Online therapists may be more convenient for those seeking a therapist for the first time.
Aside from these more conventional routes, there are other potential ways to improve your mental health on a more personal level. You can even incorporate therapy practices into your everyday life through lifestyle changes. For example, you might find benefits in practicing mindfulness skills or incorporating relaxing activities like yoga or meditation into your daily routine. If you are dealing with intense stress or emotions, communicating your thoughts to a loved one or writing down how you feel in a journal may help.
There are many ways to express and handle the day-to-day challenges in life healthily. Still, counselors and therapists can be available to offer professional support and tools as you need them. Consider reaching out to a provider near you to learn more about the availability, cost, and services you can receive.
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