Are you on a quest to find the ideal therapist, but your perfect match doesn’t accept insurance? Don’t fret! You might still be able to make therapy affordable by leveraging your out-of-network insurance benefits. We’ll guide you through the process step by step.
1 . Check Your Out-of-Network Benefits: The first step in utilizing your out-of-network insurance benefits is understanding them. These benefits are usually outlined in your Summary of Benefits, which can be found in your member information packet or on your insurance company’s website. When reviewing your policy, pay close attention to these terms.
- Out-of-Network Deductible: This is the amount you must pay before your insurance starts reimbursing you. For instance, if your deductible is $1,000, you’ll pay that amount out of pocket before your insurance kicks in.
- Coinsurance: This is the percentage of the service fee you’re responsible for. If your coinsurance is 25%, you’ll pay 25% of the therapy fee.
- Allowed Amount: Some insurance companies set a maximum amount they’ll reimburse per session, known as the “allowed amount.” For example, if your insurance’s allowed amount is $100 and your coinsurance is 25%, they’ll reimburse you $75, regardless of the therapist’s session fee. Please note, not every insurance company has out-of-network benefits.
2 . Call Your Insurance Company
To ensure you have the most up-to-date information about your benefits, contact your insurance company’s member services line. You can find this number on your insurance card or through your online insurance platform. Here are some important questions to ask:
- How much of my deductible has been met this year?
- What’s my out-of-network deductible for outpatient mental health?
- What’s my out-of-network coinsurance for outpatient mental health?
- Do you need a referral of some sort?
- What’s the process for submitting claim forms for reimbursement?
- How often do I need to submit my claims?
3. Ask Your Therapist for a Superbill
A Superbill is an essential document your therapist gives you after your session. It acts as proof of the therapy session, making it crucial for claiming insurance benefits. It contains key details needed for insurance reimbursement, including:
- Therapist’s information
- Patient’s information
- Session date and duration
- Diagnosis code
- Procedure code
- Session fee
4 . Receive Out-of-Network Reimbursement
You’ll need to pay your therapist the full session fee upfront. Depending on your plan, your insurance company will send you a reimbursement check once the claim has been processed.
Words of Caution When Using Out-Of-Network Benefits
While using Superbills for insurance reimbursement can be a helpful way to offset therapy costs when seeing out-of-network providers, there are some risks and potential issues to be aware of:
- Upfront Costs: With Superbills, you typically have to pay the full therapy fee upfront and wait for reimbursement. This can be financially challenging for some individuals, especially if therapy sessions are frequent or costly.
- Annual Deductible: Remember that you must meet your annual deductible before insurance benefits kick in. This means that if you haven’t reached your deductible amount, you’ll be responsible for the full cost of therapy until you do.
- Allowed Amounts: Some insurance plans have a predetermined “allowed amount” for therapy sessions, which may be lower than your therapist’s actual fee. If your therapist charges more than the allowed amount, you’ll be responsible for the difference.
- Claim Submission Errors: Mistakes or omissions on Superbills or during the claims submission process can result in delays or denials of reimbursement. It’s essential to ensure that Superbills are accurate and complete.
- Privacy Concerns: Superbills contain personal and sensitive information about your therapy sessions, including your diagnosis. For most, this is not a big concern, but it’s worth mentioning.
- Insurance Denial: There’s a chance that your insurance company may deny your claims for various reasons.
To mitigate these risks, it’s advisable to:
- Carefully review Superbills for accuracy before submitting them.
- Keep copies of all Superbills and related documents for your records.
- Maintain open communication with your therapist about the reimbursement process.
- Understand your insurance policy, including deductibles, coinsurance, and coverage limits.
- Be patient and persistent when dealing with insurance companies, especially if claims are denied.
Ultimately, while Superbills can help you access insurance benefits when seeing out-of-network therapists, it’s crucial to weigh the benefits against the potential risks and make an informed decision based on your individual circumstances
