Why Some Therapists Don’t Accept Insurance
It’s not easy finding a therapist. You’ve got to search for someone licensed, with experience treating your particular issue, and someone you feel comfortable opening up to. Many know the frustration of finding someone who ticks all these boxes, only to realize they don’t take insurance. The truth is that roughly one-third of therapists in this country do not accept insurance.
So what gives?
Why Many Therapists Don’t Accept Insurance
There are quite a few reasons why some therapists choose not to accept insurance from patients:
Low Reimbursement Rates
The average cost of a therapy session nationwide is typically between $100 to $200. You may have a copay of $20 – $50 with insurance. You may assume your therapist will bill the insurance company and be reimbursed for the rest. But often, insurance companies will reimburse for half the amount or less. It can be difficult for a therapist to make a 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 the 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 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 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 recovered. There are ways to work with a great therapist and not break the bank.
You can find a therapist who offers sliding scale payments. This means people with different incomes are charged different amounts based on what they can realistically afford.
Another option is to look for a therapist who provides online sessions. With no office rent or staff to hire, these therapists often charge clients far less because they have far lower overheads to run their business.
If you’d like to explore treatment options, please give our office a call. We offer online sessions and can often work with people of all different budgets.
SOURCES:
https://www.heartmatterstherapy.com/post/5-reasons-why-some-therapists-do-not-accept-insurance
https://mendmoderntherapy.com/3-reasons-why-many-therapists-dont-take-insurance/