“It’s eating up my savings,” Emily said.
Paying out of pocket for weekly therapy sessions can add up to thousands of dollars per year.
The high cost of mental health services took center stage during the pandemic.
Asking for help and knowing where to look are crucial first steps.
Chu found quality help through the university health system for a $20 copay each session.
Each 20-minute session cost her $300 out of pocket.
Insured patients regularly face obstacles getting an in-web link mental health provider.
Typically, in-web connection therapists receive a very lowflat reimbursement rateper session, set by insurance providers.
Insurance-based therapists are also burdened with mandatory documentation for claims, hours that are unpaid.
Because there’s little incentive for practitioners, an increasing number of therapists have stopped accepting insurance.
The clinic was required to bill any call over 10 minutes.
“We constantly had to prove to insurance that the child needed treatment,” Bendetson said.
Fortunately, a pro bono insurance advocacy program at the clinic assists patients with filing these claims.
For Emily K., it was a blessing because it widened the pool of specialists she could see.
“They were rushing through a checklist during my sessions.
My previous doctor asked detailed questions on how my medications were affecting me,” she said.
Still, she was grateful for the convenience and affordability.
Teletherapy apps provide accessible options for people seeking mental health support, which is helpful, according to Brown.
NAMI’s policy advocacy efforts have centered aroundenforcing parity.
