Insurance vs. Cash Pay
Paying for therapy.
Insurance can reduce your payment by as much as 100%, so why would anyone ever choose to not use their insurance for mental health? Find out the facts before you go to your first visit:
Insurance:
When you go in to see a therapist, you typically have a small co-pay and your therapist will bill the insurance company for the services provided. The insurance company then pays your therapist for providing that service. Done. What you may not know is that your insurance company requires your therapist to diagnose you before they can bill for services and that diagnosis becomes a part of your permanent record. That record could be used against you in the future in denying insurance or raising your premiums for having a "pre-existing condition."
Insurance companies are not held to the same standards as mental health professionals to keep your information confidential. They may require to read your therapist's confidential notes before they pay or even release your information to other insurance companies without authorization. And depending on what your diagnosis is, the insurance company may dictate how often, why, or when you may see your therapist. In other words, they can dictate your treatment.
Cash Pay:
By paying out of pocket you ensure your privacy and confidentiality. No one dictates when or why you see your therapist, and therefore your treatment plan can be determined by you and your therapist, not your insurance company.