Tending to your mental health should be prioritized. There are so many avenues for accessing care that make starting therapy a little easier. However, starting therapy should not be done haphazardly. Making smart decisions around your mental healthcare can make all the difference in your experience and the results. This blog will focus on exploring the benefits of private pay therapy to help determine if this is a good option for you.
Understanding Private Pay Therapy?
Private pay therapy is a payment model where clients pay directly for therapy services rather than relying on insurance or EAP benefits. Clients are often met with the hassle of navigating insurance restrictions and coverage limitations when utilizing insurance benefits. Clients can only access care based on the insurance approval of the type of care, frequency of sessions, and duration of treatment. Equally as frustrating, clients also become constrained when choosing the therapist they can work with. On top of these restraints, clients are still required to pay their co-pay for each session. Clients using their EAP benefits are also met with coverage limitations and confidentiality limits.
The Benefits of Private Pay: Why People Are Paying Out-of-Pocket
Greater Freedom
You can access more therapists and counselors when paying directly for therapy services. Greater access to providers allows you to be more selective in choosing the right provider without fear of "wasting" your limited sessions. There is also greater freedom in selecting the proper treatment approach for you. This may include interventions, session duration, or session frequency.
Increased Confidentiality
Therapy always comes with limits in confidentiality. Private pay therapy increases the level of privacy as it eliminates the need to share progress notes and other documentation with insurance or EAP companies when submitting claims.
Customized Care
Another advantage of private pay is customized care. When therapists are not restricted by insurance or EAP requirements, they have the flexibility and the freedom to provide treatment that is more tailored to your needs. This is specifically true for clients seeking to meet long-term goals rather than short-term symptom reduction. Clients can choose specialized approaches that may not be covered by insurance or EAP companies.
Stronger Therapeutic Alliance
The use of private pay can strengthen the therapeutic alliance. Clients don't have to worry about potential debt for having several sessions under insurance denied or kickbacked, leaving them with the costs insurance won't cover. Therapists can choose therapeutic approaches that are more authentic to their style. When the client and therapist can solely focus on the treatment process, this allows for a deeper collaborative connection that is more effective in reaching the desired progress.
Investing in Your Mental Health
Private pay therapy can feel like a significant, unattainable, or unnecessary financial commitment. Private pay therapy, however, is a personal investment in yourself. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), car owners of new vehicles spend about $1,015 per month on maintenance, gas, insurance, taxes, registration, loan repayment, and more. Cars are something that depreciates. In 2022, the average American spent over $300 per month on impulse buying or, rephrasing, things that were not needed. Are these things of more value than you? Investing in our mental and emotional health is one way to show ourselves that we are valuable. Depending on your needs, private pay can offer you care that cannot be received under insurance restrictions. With personalized care and specialized approaches, you can feel more confident that this is time and money well invested.
Realistically, we must recognize the challenges of affording the option of private pay therapy. Here are a couple of strategies for accessing private pay options:
Sliding Scale: Many therapists offer a limited number of reduced fee slots to keep therapy accessible for those who need financial assistance.
Flexible Scheduling: Instead of attending weekly sessions, consider whether bi-weekly or monthly sessions meet your needs.
Budgeting: Just as you would budget for anything else, include therapy services in your budget to help you save or plan ahead.
Out-of-Network Benefit: Identify if you have out-of-network benefits with your insurance company. This will allow you to get a portion of your services reimbursed while still getting the benefits of maintaining your freedom and receiving customized care.
Final Thoughts
The benefits of private pay can help you make a more informed decision on whether you need flexibility or personalized care. You can also identify if managing costs without insurance is something you can do comfortably without absorbing more stress. Consistency will be most important regardless of the payment method used. Well Within Collective offers private pay options. You can view our services and schedule a free consultation to get started.
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