If you have found a therapist who is a good fit for you, but they don’t take your insurance, you may be wondering if there is any way to get some help paying for your sessions. Every situation is different, but this article will give you some basic information about the process of submitting super bills to request partial reimbursement.
Step 1: Ask Your Insurance
Reach out to your health insurance provider, and ask the following questions.
How much does my plan cover for therapy sessions with an out-of-network provider?
What is my deductible for out-of-network providers?
How much of my deductible has already been met?
What is the process for filing a claim?
Step 2: Obtain a Super Bill
If your therapist doesn’t take your insurance, you will most likely be expected to pay the session fee at the time of service. You can ask your therapist if they are willing to provide you with a super bill. This is a statement that you can submit to your insurance company to request partial reimbursement for the services you paid for out of pocket. Many therapists provide super bills on a monthly basis, so you can submit a few dates of service at once. The document might not actually have the words, “super bill,” on it. It may say something like, “Statement for Insurance Reimbursement,” “Invoice,” or "Receipt." It will include information about your provider, the dates of service, the diagnosis, the service codes, and fees charged.
Step 3: File a Claim
Once you have the super bill, you can file a claim with your insurance provider. You may be able to do this online (look for an option to “file a claim” after you log on to your insurance provider’s website). Some insurance companies may require you to mail or fax the super bill to them. Be sure to file the claim in a timely fashion, as your insurance company will have a time limit (often 90 days) on how long after the date of service a claim can be filed.
I hope this has been helpful!
About the Author
Julie Branson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (License 47188) whose specialty areas include maternal well-being and trauma recovery. She is an Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist.
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