Here at Kentucky Counseling Center (KCC), we are proud to offer affordable therapy services. We accept most major insurance providers, and offer convenient self-pay options. Many insurance plans are happy to allow patients to see a provider through Telehealth. We believe patients get the same expert care through online therapy as they do seeing a clinician in person.
What is Online Therapy?
Online therapy is also called teletherapy. How does it work? Instead of visiting your therapist’s office, you conduct your online sessions through video calls on your computer or mobile device.
Online therapy offers the same expert mental health care services with the added convenience of attending a session from anywhere! Unlike traditional in-office counseling, you can attend online therapy from home, work, your lunch break, outdoors, while traveling for business, even while on vacation!
Health Insurance Coverage for Online Therapy
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the USA, there had been concerns on how healthcare professionals, patients, and insurance companies should respond to the situation. Many states have required insurance providers to update their insurance coverages. These coverage plans should include online mental health therapy in the same manner as traditional therapy sessions.
New procedures and waivers have been established to allow provision for online therapy coverage. Some policies and waivers are still effective depending on your location and insurance company provider.
There are some plans that cover all therapy sessions. Some insurance plans that only cover sessions that are considered medically necessary. It is always best to check with your insurance provider to verify coverage. At Kentucky Counseling Center we also offer convenient self-pay options, making counseling affordable and available for most.
According to New York-based psychotherapist Anna Hindwell, LCSW-R Telehealth coverage has changed rapidly in recent years. Even if you were previously not covered for Telehealth counseling services, due to these changes your coverage might now include online therapy. Congress also expanded Medicare and Medicaid. The Affordable Care Act has allowed the expansion of mental health care enormously. Even the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made the HIPAA rules more suitable for Telehealthcare while still keeping patient privacy a priority.
Mental Health Services Providers and Insurance
There are many online therapy providers that accept payment through insurance. If you have a health insurance plan, it is best that you look for therapy providers that can accept your health insurance. Please see our list of in-network insurance providers for more information, or follow the steps below:
Check Therapy Provider’s Website
The first thing you have to do when looking for a therapy provider is to check their website. Their website will include information about the online services they offer. It will also include a list of their accepted in-network health insurance providers.
Ask the Therapy Provider
Aside from checking their website, it is also best if you reach out to the therapy provider to double-check benefits. Here at KCC, you can reach out to us through our online chat, so you can confirm if we accept your insurance provider.
Call the Insurance Company
After checking in with the online therapist of your choice, it’s also a good idea to touch base with your insurance company. You can ask if they can cover your treatment. Also ask how much is the anticipated amount they will pay, and how much is your payment responsibility share.
There are some insurance companies that have Telehealth platforms focusing on behavioral health treatment, offering various forms of counseling like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). You can also ask for a list of online therapy service providers. This will make it easier for you to trim down your options.
Insurance Issues
If you are unsure about the coverage of your health insurance, it is best that you ask your insurance provider. You need to check what therapies or mental health treatment your insurance plan covers.
It is also important that you know which documents are necessary to file for reimbursement. You have to make sure that those documents are on hand. If in the event that your insurance provider denies your request for Telehealth services, you are allowed to file an appeal.
Some Insurance Companies
Medicare and Medicaid
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, both Medicare and Medicaid expanded their insurance coverages to provide online therapy services. For most services, Medicare can shoulder the same amount for in-person and online therapies. Medicaid covers online therapy as well.
Anthem
Anthem can cover telehealth services provided that the sessions include videos. The coverage may vary based on your state. Anthem can cover the same cost for telehealth services as in-person sessions.
Humana
Humana covers all Telehealth services however there are special considerations which vary by state.
Tricare
Tricare covers Telehealth services completely including audio-only sessions. With Tricare, you don’t have to pay from your own pocket. There are no copayments as well. Tricare can reimburse patients for interstate care given if your state prohibits it.
There are many insurance companies that cover online mental health therapy. The coverage offers differ depending on the state you are in. Keep checking with your insurance provider even if you have been denied coverage in the past. There is a possibility that the decisions of these companies may change at any time.
Finding the Best Online Therapy Provider
If you’re looking for an online therapy provider, it is important that you choose wisely. Your choice will greatly impact the effectiveness of your therapy. It is important that you build a good relationship with your therapist. This is called the therapeutic alliance.
Looking for a healthcare provider who can provide medical advice can seem overwhelming. More so, if you are looking online. Here are tips on how you can find the right therapist for you:
Sorting Options
When looking for a healthcare provider, you also take into consideration your experiences and background. For instance, if you are part of the LGBTQ+ community, you will prefer a therapist with the same background or has experience in this area.
Have a Consultation
Before deciding if you will pursue therapy with a therapist, it is best if you can spend some time chatting and getting to know them. This way you can see if the therapist is a perfect fit. At KCC we have a large network of providers, allowing patients to choose which provider they want to work with the most.
Check Credentials
You have to be certain that you are receiving treatment from a licensed and credible professional. You should check their background and credentials.
Appointment Availability
It is important to find a provider who can meet your expectations in terms of frequency of appointments. At KCC, we have a large network of providers, allowing us to see patients in the same week they requested their appointment.
Acknowledged Insurance Providers of KCC
Kentuck Counseling Center (KCC) offers one of the most affordable and accessible online counseling services in the area. KCC accepts payments from major insurance providers. Here is a list of acknowledged insurance providers:
- Kentucky Medicaid
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- Passport
- Wellcare
- Aetna
- Caresource
- Humana
- United
- CIGNA
- Optum
- Molina
- Tricare
- Medicare
- Buckeye Community Health
- Health First Health Plan
- Oscar Health
- Pacific Source
- Paramount Advantage
KCC is a client-centered mental health provider. KCC makes sure that you get the care that you need most without wasting too many resources. To cater to more clients, KCC is working on adding more insurance companies to this current list. This way, more people can receive quality health care without worries. If your insurance provider is not on this list, feel free to contact KCC.
We Got You Covered!
The COVID-19 pandemic brought drastic and long-term changes to both healthcare professionals and insurance companies. Because of this, it is highly possible that your insurance can still cover your online treatment even after the pandemic.
KCC is embracing this innovative move of providing online mental health care services. It is the goal of KCC, to bring affordable and accessible online therapy services to more Americans.
KCC knows that getting the help you need for your mental health is very important. You don’t have to worry about how you are going to pay for your treatment. KCC is working hard to accommodate as many insurance providers as possible. Book an appointment now!
