As much as therapy is beneficial to people, it is somewhat difficult with finding a therapy service that is affordable and a therapist that takes your insurance. Many people have expressed the stress and amount of hard work involved in getting the perfect therapy service. In this blog post, you will see tips that could help you find affordable therapy service that accepts insurance.

Tips for finding a Therapist that Takes My Insurance

Many are experiencing overwhelming mental stress and labor when looking for therapy services for conditions such as anxiety or depression. Finding the perfect therapist is hard enough. Getting a therapist that is affordable and accepts your insurance plan can be overwhelming. The following tips are very beneficial for those looking for affordable therapy services, especially in Long Island and the surrounding NYC area.

Inquire from your Insurance Provider the Services They Cover

In the US, mental health service is one of the essential health services that individual and group insurance plans should cover. This was stated in the Affordable Care Act pushed by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Many employers also cover a portion of mental health for their employees. All Medicaid plans also include mental health services into their options. Therefore, it is not out of place for your insurance provider to cover mental health.

However, it doesn’t hurt with enquiring and confirming with the insurance provider. Also, the extent of coverage offered by the insurance provider varies from plan to plan and from one provider to another. For instance, many insurance providers have updated their mental health coverage to include teletherapy, made popular by the coronavirus pandemic.

Lastly, the plan information given to you when you enrolled for the plan could provide the needed information. However, many people find it difficult to understand the plan information. Therefore, it makes sense to ask the following questions when you call the customer care agent for your insurance provider;

• Do you cover teletherapy visits?
• What is co-pay for therapy visits?
• Do you cover for out-of-network therapists? If yes, what is the reimbursement process?
• Do I need pre-approval for the insurer to use a therapist?
• Do you cover for all mental health professionals or it is selective?

Ask for a list of In-Network Therapists

Many insurance providers have a list of therapists they recommend or work with. These therapists are known as in-network therapists. With many insurance providers, you can save money by staying within the list of in-network therapists. To know these therapists, you can check the online directory on your insurance provider’s website.

If you are finding that a website might be a bit difficult to navigate you can call the company. Ask them to send you a list of in-network therapists in your area. Be sure to let them know exactly what you want so that you can get the list that works for you. Remember that you are paying the insurance provider and helping you with accurate information is an obligation on their part.

It is important to state here that the options you would get will most likely be limited. Finding an in-network therapist that is available in your area seems very difficult. And sometimes, the in-network therapists available in your area are not looking to take on new patients, or may not have the specialty that you need.

If you get an out-of-network therapist in your area available to take on new patients, it is usually down to luck and you may have to meet a deductible before your insurance provider can cover it.

Online Therapy

Over the years, online therapy has been popular, all thanks to the advancement in technology and also the coronavirus pandemic. And seeing as online therapy or teletherapy is now very popular, your insurance provider could provide cover for online therapy.

Is Online Therapy Covered By Insurance?

Most online therapy is covered by insurance. To confirm, check the website of the therapy service to see the insurance plans they take. For instance, at Eclectic Psychotherapy of Long Island, we provide a list of insurance plans accepted on the website, https://www.counselinglongisland.com/. We accept Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, and Oxford.

Also, as with physical therapy services, your insurance provider can help if you are covered for online therapy and the platforms that you can access. All you need to do is provide the customer care agent with your name, plan name, and policy number.

Do Online Therapy Services take Medicare or Medicaid?

In a similar fashion with private insurance companies, Medicaid and Medicare have updated their plans to cover online therapy. While Medicare covers all of its members in all states in the country, the coverage provided by Medicaid depends on the states where a person resides. To confirm the eligibility for the Medicaid cover for online therapy in your state, call the number on your Medicaid card or contact the state office for Medicaid.

Conclusion

The need for therapy is increasing daily all around the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that people are seeking therapy services. However, alongside the need for quality therapy, there is equally the need to get an affordable therapy service, especially one that fits into your insurance plan.

For many people, the process of getting a therapy service or therapist that will accept your insurance can be stressful and overwhelming. This is why this article would prove useful and needed for people in need of affordable therapy services.

Eclectic Psychotherapy is an example of a counseling practice that accepts numerous insurance plans in Long Island and the surrounding New York City area.