{"id":19542,"date":"2022-03-14T14:59:10","date_gmt":"2022-03-14T19:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepapergown.zocdoc.com\/?p=19542"},"modified":"2023-03-08T13:59:28","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T18:59:28","slug":"what-does-it-mean-to-get-an-out-of-network-therapist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/what-does-it-mean-to-get-an-out-of-network-therapist\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to ‘Out-Of-Network’ Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s so much lingo around <\/span>paying for therapy<\/span><\/a>. Differentiating between \u201cout-of-network\u201d and \u201cin-network\u201d costs can be a huge headache. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re looking for a new therapist, most of the time, you’ll find that providers charge anywhere from <\/span>$100 to $200<\/span><\/a> for an hour-long session. But how much you actually have to pay out of pocket depends on a couple of factors. <\/span>It\u2019s usually more cost-effective to find a therapist that\u2019s in-network with your insurance, but if you\u2019re not able to do so, you might want to seek someone that takes out-of-network benefits. Generally, finding someone who\u2019s out of network will still be cheaper than paying out of pocket with a therapist that doesn\u2019t take any form of insurance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, there are some loopholes to be aware of. We break it all down so you don\u2019t find yourself going down rabbit holes, with no end in sight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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First of all, what does out of network really mean?<\/h3>\n

When you go to therapy, you can pay a few ways. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you pick a therapist that doesn\u2019t accept insurance at all, you\u2019ll pay their entire fee out of pocket. <\/span>If your therapist takes your insurance plan, they\u2019re in network and you pay a predetermined co-pay up front; your insurance pays the rest to your provider later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If your therapist is out of network, it usually means that your insurer is “only willing to pay a certain amount toward your therapy with that person,” says <\/span>Grace Dowd<\/span><\/a>, a psychotherapist based in Austin, Texas. These plans usually cover less than they would an in-network provider. <\/span><\/p>\n

The payment process for out-of-network therapy also works a bit differently. \u201cWhen a therapist is out of network, they get paid right away, but the client ends up waiting to get paid back,\u201d says Dowd. What does this mean? As a patient, you pay the full cost up front and wait to get reimbursed from insurance, so the provider gets paid quicker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Any therapist or type of therapy can be out of network. <\/span>Abby Gagerman<\/span><\/a>, a therapist in Deerfield, Illinois, says in-network providers have to follow more insurance rules. If a provider is out of network, they might be able offer more individualized or niche care. <\/span><\/p>\n

For example, Gagerman says an out-of-network therapist might accompany a client with agoraphobia to the grocery store, or be more willing than other providers to talk on the phone for 10 minutes during a client\u2019s panic attack.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Okay, if I\u2019m interested in seeing an out-of-network therapist, what do I do next?<\/h3>\n

If the provider you’re interested in is out of network with your insurance plan, definitely do some research beforehand so you know how much you\u2019ll be paying. <\/span><\/p>\n

Call up your insurer. Here are a few questions to ask before you commit to an out-of-network therapist:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n