Using Your Insurance for Therapy Sessions: Let’s Make It Make Sense
- Dr. Bianca Jones
- Jan 2
- 4 min read
If you’ve ever stared at your insurance card wondering what it actually means for getting therapy, you’re not alone. A lot of people feel confused or overwhelmed when it comes to understanding how to use their mental health benefits—and we get it.
At Sage Supportive Services, we want to take the guesswork out of the process. Whether you’re new to therapy or just new to using insurance to pay for it, here’s a simple breakdown of what you need to know.
Deductible vs. Copay: What’s the Difference when paying for Therapy with Insurance Benefits?
Let’s start with two of the most common terms you’ll hear when it comes to insurance for therapy sessions: deductible and copay. These can be confusing, but here’s what they really mean in plain language.
Deductible: This is the amount you pay out-of-pocket for medical care before your insurance starts helping with costs. Not all plans have deductibles—but if yours does, it means you’ll pay the full (discounted) session rate until that deductible is met.
Copay: This is a flat fee—like $20, $30, or $50—that you pay per session. If your plan doesn't have a deductible, you’ll usually start paying this copay from your very first session. If your plan does have a deductible, then the copay typically kicks in after you’ve met that deductible.
So, let’s say your plan includes both a deductible and a $30 copay. At first, you’ll pay the full session rate (based on your insurance’s discounted rate). But once you’ve hit your deductible for the year, you’ll just pay the $30 copay going forward.
Also keep in mind: some insurance plans waive the deductible for mental health services. That means even if you haven’t met your deductible, you might still only owe the copay amount. This is why it’s so important to have us check your benefits—because you could be paying less than you expect.
Meeting Your Deductible: It’s Not Just About Therapy
Many people are surprised to learn that all types of medical expenses count toward your deductible—not just therapy. That includes:
Doctor visits
Labs and imaging
Prescription medications
ER or urgent care visits
Specialist appointments
So, even if you’re paying out of pocket for a few therapy sessions now, it could be helping you reach your deductible faster—especially if you’re getting other care throughout the year.
Copay vs. Coinsurance
Once your deductible is met, you may have:
A copay: A fixed fee (like $25 per session), or
Coinsurance: A percentage of the total session cost. For example, if your coinsurance is 25%, and the contracted rate is $150, you would pay $37.50, and your insurance would cover the rest.
The Provider Discount: A Hidden Benefit of Using Insurance for Therapy Sessions
Here’s something most people don’t realize: Even if you do have to pay out of pocket toward your deductible, you still get the discounted, contracted rate—not the full cash rate.
Let’s say our regular out-of-pocket rate is $200 per session, but your insurance has a contracted rate of $150. If you're working toward your deductible, you’ll only pay $150—not $200—because of that provider discount. That’s one of the biggest perks of using your insurance, even if you’re not sure what it covers yet.
We Accept Many Insurance Plans — Let’s See If You’re Covered
One of the most common questions we get is: “Do you take my insurance?”
At Sage Supportive Services, we’re proud to be in-network with a wide range of insurance plans to help make therapy and psychological services more accessible. Here are some of the providers we currently work with:
Blue Cross Blue Shield
UnitedHealthcare
Optum
Aetna
Cigna / Evernorth
WellPoint
Community Health Choice
Molina
Superior Health
Ambetter
Medicaid
Medicare
Humana
Magellan
Lyra (EAP)
Lucet (EAP)
If you don’t see your insurance listed here—don’t worry. There’s still a good chance we may be in-network with your plan. Many insurance companies contract out their mental health benefits to third-party providers. So even if we’re not listed directly under your plan’s name, we may still show up as in-network through one of these partnerships.
That’s why it’s so important to let us check your benefits directly. We’ll reach out to your insurance provider and confirm exactly what your mental health coverage includes, what your out-of-pocket costs might be, and whether any deductible applies to your sessions.
Making It Work for You: Flexible, Affordable Therapy Options
We know mental health care needs to be affordable and accessible. If you’re working with a deductible or coinsurance and want to spread sessions out, we’re happy to help create a plan that works for you.
We also offer several low-cost or no-cost options:
Free therapy with our graduate-level intern (a Master’s in Psychology student working under the supervision of a psychologist)
$50 sessions with a psychometrician (Master’s-trained and providing both assessments and limited clinical services)
And of course, flexible scheduling to help you stretch your budget and still get consistent support
Let Us Check Your Benefits for You
We want this to be easy. If you’re unsure what your plan covers, we can check your benefits before you even start.
Just head to our Request Treatment page and upload your insurance information. Our assistant, Karyn, will take it from there and follow up with a detailed breakdown of what to expect.
Ready to Book?
If you already know what you need and you’re ready to get started, you can schedule your session directly on our website.
You shouldn’t have to choose between your mental health and your budget. We believe in making high-quality care as accessible as possible—whether that means navigating insurance, offering flexible options, or just helping you feel more confident about what your benefits actually mean.
Still have questions?We’re happy to walk you through it.
📞 Call or text us: 713-369-4342
📧 Email: admin@sagesupportiveservices.com
📄 Contact form: Visit our contact page.
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