Can I bill my insurance for therapy?
Asked by: Antonietta Bartoletti | Last update: January 2, 2026Score: 4.4/5 (17 votes)
Can therapy be covered by insurance?
Most individual health insurance plans cover mental health services, including individual, group, and family therapy, as well as a variety of treatment options, such as outpatient or inpatient therapy.
How does therapy insurance billing work?
The insurance company receives the claim and tells you what their contracted rate is. Their rate is THE MOST YOU WILL COLLECT FOR THAT SESSION. They will then tell you what portion of their rate the client is responsible for, and what portion they are going to pay on behalf of the client.
How do therapists get paid by insurance?
In simple words, a covered patient comes to see you for therapy services: you provide care services, prepare a bill, and submit an insurance claim for therapists to their health insurer, and the insurer reimburses you.
Can a non-licensed therapist bill insurance for mental health?
Can a non-licensed therapist bill insurance? Only licensed providers can practice psychotherapy, and only credentialed providers can get paid by insurance companies. But that doesn't mean only the licensed, credentialed provider can actually manage the billing.
Can Couples Use Insurance?
Can you submit therapy bills to insurance?
You can request that your therapist put together a Super Bill or an invoice about the services you received and what you paid for them. A Super Bill requires that you pay for services first but you can submit it to your insurance company and potentially be reimbursed with some or all of your therapy costs.
How can I do therapy without a license?
Most non-licensed counselor jobs require a master's degree in psychology or a related field and at least one year of relevant experience in counseling. Non-licensed counselors need to pass a criminal background check. This is especially crucial if you plan to work with children in schools or youth programs.
Why is mental health not covered by insurance?
The parity law does not require insurers to provide mental health benefits—rather, the law states that if mental health benefits are offered, they can't have more restrictive requirements than those that apply to physical health benefits.
What is the copay for therapy?
A copay is the set fee you pay at every medical session, including therapy. When you see a therapist who is in-network with your insurance plan, you pay them a copay at each therapy session. Then, your therapist sends a claim to the insurance company to receive the remainder of the fee they're owed.
How much is insurance for a therapist?
Average costs of therapy malpractice insurance
Some counselors and therapists can expect to pay between $400-$800 per year in therapy malpractice insurance.
How to bill for psychotherapy?
What is the medical billing code for psychotherapy? The primary CPT code for psychotherapy is 90837 CPT code, which is used for 60-minute sessions. Other relevant codes include 90832 CPT code for 30-minute sessions and 90834 CPT code for 45-minute sessions.
How long does it take for insurance to pay a therapist?
In most cases, it will take at least 30 days from the date the insurer receives a claim to when your mental health practice will receive reimbursement. Some insurers move faster, with turnaround times of two to three weeks, but, as a rule, 30 days is what most practices can expect.
How do you find a therapist my insurance will cover?
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.
Do you pay for therapy before or after?
Many therapists prefer to take care of payment up front, or to have clients pay for several sessions in advance; that way, both therapist and client avoid the awkward experience of having to discuss payment after a particularly difficult session.
Is anxiety covered by insurance?
Health insurance for mental health provides coverage for mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, schizophrenia, etc. It covers persons with mental illness for the treatment of mental or psychological disorders, making medical insurance more inclusive for them.
How are therapy sessions billed?
You'll want to use your typical 90837 CPT code. Then you'll also want to use the Add On CPT code 99354 which declares an additional 30 to 74 minutes of therapy. So any time you do 90 to 2 hours and 14 minutes of therapy, make sure to use the combination of CPT Codes 90837 and +99354.
Is therapy a primary care visit?
No. A mental health therapist is considered a specialist. Let's say you pay $20 to see your PCP but $40 to see your dermatologist, for example.
What is the hardest mental illness to live with?
Borderline personality disorder is one of the most painful mental illnesses since individuals struggling with this disorder are constantly trying to cope with volatile and overwhelming emotions.
Will insurance pay for therapy without a diagnosis?
If you use your insurance for therapy, you will have to be diagnosed. Insurance companies only pay for services that are deemed “medically necessary.” In therapy, medical necessity is established by diagnosing a client.
Why is mental health therapy so expensive?
The high cost of therapy can result from using an out-of-network provider, not having adequate insurance, or your therapist's overhead costs increasing session prices. Fortunately, if traditional therapy is too expensive and you're looking for creative, effective ways to reduce that price tag, you have several options.
Can you legally be a therapist without a degree?
A master's degree is required to become a licensed therapist. Common degrees include a Master of Social Work (MSW), Master's in Counseling, or Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). Supervised Clinical Experience (2 to 3 years).
What is the difference between a therapist and a counselor?
Counselors usually help with specific issues in a short amount of time, teaching coping strategies. Therapists focus more on deeper emotional and mental health problems and use a variety of methods to help.
Can I call myself a therapist?
In order to call oneself a therapist, one must possess either a master's or a doctoral degree. Some counseling titles require a masters degree, while some do not. Find more information on the distinctions between coaching, mentoring and counseling here.
Are therapy bills tax deductible?
A7: Yes, if the therapy is treatment for a disease. For example, an amount paid for therapy to treat a diagnosed mental illness is a medical expense, but an amount paid for marital counseling is not.