Guide
How to use insurance for therapy, explained in plain language.
Insurance can make starting therapy feel more complicated than it needs to be. This guide explains how to use insurance for therapy with Erin L. Smith, MSPC, LPCC, LPC: which plans she is in-network with and where, what the common terms mean, and what to ask your insurer. Only your insurer can confirm your benefits, so treat this as a starting point.
01Using insurance for therapy
Plans Erin is in-network with
Anthem BCBS, United Healthcare and UMR are in-network in Kentucky, Arizona and Minnesota, the three states where Erin is licensed. Aetna, Humana and Medicare are in-network too, but only in Kentucky. If your plan is not listed, self-pay is welcome. When your plan is on the list, what you pay out of pocket is usually a copay rather than the full cost of the session, though a deductible or coinsurance can change that. Plans and networks change, so check the details with your insurer before your first session.
02Using insurance for therapy
Three insurance terms in plain words
A deductible is the amount you pay for covered care each plan year before your insurance starts sharing the cost, so early sessions may cost more until it is met. A copay is a flat amount you pay per visit, set by your plan. Coinsurance is your share of each visit's cost, figured as a portion of what the plan allows rather than as a flat amount. Some plans use one, some another, and some combine them. Your insurance card or member account may list the basics, but your insurer gives the clearest answer.
03Using insurance for therapy
Questions to ask before you use insurance
Before your first session, call your insurer with a few direct questions. Is Erin L. Smith in-network with your plan for outpatient mental health care? What will your copay or coinsurance be? How much of your deductible is left to meet? Does telehealth get the same coverage as an in-person visit? Note the date, the name of the person you spoke with and any reference number, and keep those notes with your insurance card in case questions come up later. If the answers are confusing, Erin is glad to help you work out the right questions to ask.
04Using insurance for therapy
Diagnosis, missed sessions and the fine print
Two general points are worth knowing before you start. First, insurance plans generally require a diagnosis to cover therapy, and that diagnosis appears on the claims sent to your insurer. Some people prefer self-pay for that reason, and the choice is yours. Second, insurers generally do not pay for missed appointments. Here, the full session is charged when you cancel with less than 24 hours' notice, and that charge typically falls to you rather than your plan. Neither point is meant to discourage you. Knowing both up front simply keeps the costs predictable.
05Using insurance for therapy
Self-pay and the published rates
Insurance is not required. Self-pay is welcome, and the practice works with a mix of insured and self-pay clients. The first step, a 15-minute consultation by telehealth, is free. A 60-minute psychotherapy session is $150. Where Erin is in-network, that session is billed to your plan; if you are self-pay, you pay it directly. Accelerated Resolution Therapy sessions run about 100 minutes, and their cost is confirmed at your free consultation, as are the length and cost of a diagnostic evaluation. If cost is a deciding factor, raise it on the call.
Good to know
- Anthem BCBS, United Healthcare, UMR: all three states
- Aetna, Humana, Medicare: Kentucky only
- Self-pay welcome: $150 per 60-minute session
- Verify your benefits before your first session
Plans and networks change, so your insurer has the final word on your benefits.
Questions
Common questions
- Does Erin take my insurance?
- If you have Anthem BCBS, United Healthcare or UMR, she is in-network in all three of her states. With Aetna, Humana or Medicare, she is in-network in Kentucky. Otherwise, self-pay is welcome. Either way, check your benefits with your insurer before a first session.
- Can I see Erin without using insurance?
- Yes. Self-pay is welcome. A 60-minute psychotherapy session is $150, and the 15-minute consultation is free. Costs for Accelerated Resolution Therapy and diagnostic evaluations are confirmed at your free consultation. Some people choose self-pay for simplicity or privacy, and that choice is yours.
- Will insurance cover my whole session?
- Not always. If Erin is in-network with your plan, your share is usually a copay, but a deductible or coinsurance can raise what you owe, especially early in the plan year. Missed or late-canceled sessions are generally not covered. Only your insurer can tell you exactly what you will pay.
In Erin's words
What she would say if you called today.
Questions about money are welcome on our free consultation. Ask me whether I am in-network with your plan or what a session costs, and I will answer plainly. I am also glad to help you work out which questions to put to your insurer before your first session.
Free 15-minute consultation
Book a consultation with Erin
Fifteen minutes by telehealth, at no charge. You can describe what is going on, ask how Erin works, and decide afterward whether to book a first session. Scheduling opens in her secure SimplePractice portal.
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