2. You have a high deductible plan 

Many insurance plans require you to meet a high deductible before coverage begins, meaning you may pay the full cost of therapy out-of-pocket initially. In-network care is also often limited by insurance guidelines, including restrictions on session frequency, duration, and length of treatment. Out-of-network therapy offers greater flexibility and autonomy, allowing you and your therapist to determine the pace, depth, and approach of your care based entirely on your needs.

3. You have good out-of-network benefits

If you have strong out-of-network benefits, your insurance may reimburse a significant portion of each session and sometimes making therapy comparable to, or even more affordable than, in-network care. In some cases, clients pay fully out-of-pocket toward high deductibles for in-network therapy, only to face session limits. With out-of-network benefits, you may receive meaningful reimbursement while maintaining greater flexibility in your care.

4. You want highly personalized services
If a therapist isn’t constrained by providing services that the insurance company only authorizes, they are often able to spend more time and creativity crafting the perfect treatment plan for you. 

5. Out-of-network therapy opens doors for out-of-the-box treatment 
Out-of-network therapists can offer longer, sessions, more frequent sessions or sessions that occur over a longer duration than compared with in-network insurance providers.  Out-of-network providers are also able to provide out-of-the-box solutions and care plans. 

6. Privacy

• Privacy from your family and/or parents —  If you are on your parent’s insurance plan and are uncomfortable with them knowing you are seeing a therapist, you might consider paying out-of-pocket.

 

• Privacy from your health insurance company — In order for your insurance to pay for therapy sessions, in-network therapists are required to provide the company detailed information regarding your sessions, including a diagnostic code and other highly private material. 

 

If you don’t want your insurance company to have access to any information about your mental health, consider out-of-network and self-pay options.

 

• Privacy from your employer — In certain circumstances, your employer may be aware of how you are utilizing your health insurance benefit, especially if the company is self-insured.

7. You don’t want to wait to start therapy – Avoiding frustration and aggravation.
In the local area, the majority of private therapists and practices do not participate in in-network insurance plans.  Those few therapists that do participate as in-network tend to be full and have long waiting lists. Out-of-network, private pay therapists tend to have more availability and greater flexibility in scheduling new clients.

We routinely receive calls from prospective patients who have spent enormous amounts of time and energy seeking a therapist who takes their insurance.  Many describe that numerous in-network providers don’t return calls, are full and have waiting lists, or don’t have the time availability that works. To further their frustration, they call the insurance company and request a list of local providers, only to realize that the directory is a “ghost list” of closed practices and wrong numbers.

8. You found a great match!
At the end of the day, your relationship with your therapist is one of the most important aspects of the healing process. 

If you only consider in-network therapists, you might eliminate therapists who would be an excellent fit for you and maybe help you feel better faster. Choosing an in-network therapist who doesn’t make you feel comfortable or doesn’t specialize in the areas you’re struggling with solely because they’re in-network is a waste of money. Prioritize the personality fit and you’ll find a great match.

To learn more about Out-of-Network Therapy Benefits, please visit:
https://www.tworiverstherapycolorado.com/blog/tips-out-of-network-therapy-benefits