Why Seeing An Out-of-network Therapist Can Actually Save You Money

You think you’ve found a therapist that’s right for you: they align with your needs and goals, have a high level of expertise and training, and, most importantly, their personality and approach make you feel seen, heard, and understood. The only problem? They’re out-of-network (OON) with your insurance. The good news is that this does not, in fact, have to be a problem at all. Most of us assume that finding a therapist within our budget means working with someone who’s in-network with our provider; however, this isn’t necessarily the case. Working with an OON therapist can actually save you money, while also giving you the flexibility to hit every mark on your therapist checklist. 

A Quick Overview of OON Benefits

Working with an OON therapist means you will pay for your session upfront, and then your insurance provider will reimburse you anywhere from 50-70% after your deductible, depending on your specific plan. Some providers will even reimburse you 80-90%. That means that the actual cost of a $180 therapy session for you could be just $18-$90.  

Many therapists ask that you handle the reimbursement process yourself, but Repose offers a courtesy claim submission. This means we will submit the invoices directly to your insurance provider in order to make the process as easy for you as possible. For more on how paying OON works, you can check out our FAQ or read our blog post that breaks down health insurance.

How Does OON Help Me Save Money?

As mentioned above, once you meet your deductible and get reimbursed, the cost of therapy may already be extremely affordable – a $180 session could only cost you $18-$90, depending on your provider. But working with an OON therapist can also save you money in the long run. 

In order for therapy to be worth your investment, it actually has to be effective. If you settle for a therapist who isn’t an optimal fit, you may end up putting in more time, money, and energy into therapy than you otherwise would. Finding a therapist that’s in-network is quite difficult, especially in the New York City area, so it can greatly limit your options. You may find yourself sacrificing other essential qualities, such as the therapist’s areas of expertise, the therapeutic modalities they employ, and their overall personality and style, in order to stay in-network. 

Additionally, research consistently shows that the therapeutic relationship–how much you like, connect with, and trust your therapist–is the most important ingredient for successful psychotherapy. Being open to working with an OON therapist will allow you the flexibility to find someone with whom you feel a genuine connection with, and who can best help you meet your therapeutic goals. 

What Are Other Benefits of OON therapy?

Arguably the most important benefit of being open to an OON therapist is that you can prioritize finding someone who you like, connect with, and trust. But working with an OON therapist can also open doors to other elements of therapy that feel valuable to your growth and wellbeing. For example, you can choose to work with a therapist that has training in more specialized areas, such as maternal wellness, trauma and PTSD, college counseling, or marriage counseling and couple’s therapy. You’ll also have access to a wider variety of therapy services, such as EMDR, art therapy, dance therapy, yoga therapy, and group therapy services. In short, you can explore the therapeutic approaches that best fit your needs, without being limited by the therapists and services your insurance provider chooses to cover. 

Why Not Use a Big Teletherapy Company?

You may have noticed the influx of online counseling companies and teletherapy apps that popped up during the pandemic. Understanding how those corporations work can help you make an informed decision when choosing a therapist. Big teletherapy companies strive to offer a convenient and cheap alternative, but that comes at a cost. In order to keep prices down and slots open, they focus on quantity over quality. There are minimal vetting processes for therapists to join and no clinical supervision, meaning no one is checking to make sure clients are receiving quality services. These corporations also reimburse therapists very poorly, so therapists often have no choice but to take on more clients than what is ethically responsible, just to make a living wage. 

At Repose, we feel strongly that the therapeutic experience should be highly individualized and thoughtful. We maintain a limited client list so that our clinicians can offer you the time, consideration, and attention you deserve. We implement a strict vetting process for new hires, and our therapists participate in weekly supervision and regular trainings so that they stay up to date on the latest science-backed practices. 

Reach out to us today to schedule your session for online therapy.