Will my insurance pay for therapy?

The short answer? Maybe. That’s frustrating; we get it. But every insurance plan is different. It’s becoming more and more common for health insurance to cover or help with the expense of therapy. While some plans offer in-network therapists, it’s more likely that insurance will provide a partial or full reimbursement for the therapist of your choice. Your most useful tool in pursuing reimbursement is a superbill from your mental healthcare provider.

What is a superbill?

A superbill is a detailed invoice used in healthcare to document the services provided by a medical professional. It includes essential information about the patient, the provider, and the services rendered, and it is used for insurance reimbursement or to submit a claim.

Here’s what you typically find on a superbill:

1. Patient Information: Name, date of birth, and insurance details.

2. Provider Information: Name, credentials, and contact information of the healthcare provider.

3. Service Details: Dates of service, descriptions of the services performed, and corresponding medical codes.

4. Charges: The cost for each service.

5. Billing Information: Provider’s tax identification number and any relevant billing codes.

You can use the superbill to submit claims to your insurance company for reimbursement, especially when seeing out-of-network providers or when insurance requires additional documentation beyond what’s provided in an insurance claim.

What if I don’t have insurance?

The best way to find financial assistance for mental healthcare is through an employer insurance program, Medicare, Medicaid or COBRA. But if finding coverage is not doable, there are still some options available to you. We recommend checking out this page on Mental Health America’s website for more information.