Guides
Private Pay or Insurance for Therapy: What Is the Difference?
Two Ways to Pay
Private pay means you pay the session fee directly. Using insurance means you ask your plan to participate in the cost, according to its own terms. The amount you owe can differ depending on the plan, and I cannot tell you what a particular policy covers from its name alone. It is worth checking your own benefits before making a choice.
My current session fees are $175 for virtual therapy and $200 for in-home therapy. Those are the listed session rates, not a prediction of what your insurer would pay or what you would owe after a claim. If cost is part of your decision, I want you to have clear information rather than a guess.
Insurance I Accept
I accept Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), UnitedHealthcare (Optum), and Baylor Scott & White. Having one of these names on your card does not, by itself, tell us what your particular plan covers. Plans can have different rules for visits, amounts owed, and the way a claim is handled.
Contact your insurer to ask about outpatient mental health benefits and whether your specific plan covers sessions with me. You can also ask what you might owe and whether virtual and in-home visits are handled differently. I do not want to make claims about coverage that I cannot verify for your policy.
When You Are Out of Network
If you use an out-of-network plan, I can provide a superbill. This is a document with information you may use to ask your insurer about reimbursement. A superbill is not a promise that an insurer will reimburse you, or that it will reimburse a particular amount. Your plan decides what it will accept.
You can ask the insurer what it needs from you before your first session. If you are comparing options, find out whether your plan has an out-of-network benefit and how to submit documentation. Keeping these questions separate from the clinical conversation can make the practical side easier to understand.
Questions Worth Asking
Before deciding, ask what you will pay for each visit, whether any deductible applies, and how your plan handles the kind of session you are considering. If you are planning in-home work, ask specifically about that setting rather than assuming it is treated like virtual care. Write down what the insurer tells you and any next step it asks you to take.
You can also ask me about my fees, online payments, or what a superbill includes. I handle my own scheduling and can talk through the practical process with you. I cannot interpret your plan's contract or promise an insurance outcome, but I can tell you what I provide.
Starting With Clarity
If you are ready to ask about therapy, send a general message through the contact page without private health details. Tell me whether you are considering virtual therapy while located in Texas or in-home work near Killeen, Copperas Cove, or Temple. A free 15-minute introductory conversation is available if you want to ask about the process.
The right payment choice depends on your own circumstances and your plan's terms. This is general information, not insurance advice or a coverage decision. My Fees and Insurance page has the current rates and the insurance names in one place, so you can take those details to your insurer.
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