Insurance
In-Network Coverage
In California, I accept Lyra and Aetna.
In Texas, I accept Aetna, Lyra, Optum, Oscar Health, Oxford, Carelon, and Quest Behavioral Health.
Out-Of-Network Coverage
I have partnered with Mentaya to help clients use their out-of-network benefits to save money on therapy.
I can submit claims on your behalf in order to prevent any interruptions to your mental health treatment, also known as courtesy billing.
Use the benefits calculator tool below to see if you qualify for reimbursement for my services.
What is a Single Case Agreement?
If your insurance plan doesn’t include out-of-network benefits, you may still be able to work with me as your therapist through something called a Single Case Agreement (SCA). A Single Case Agreement is a contract between me and your insurance company that allows me to provide therapy services to you at in-network rates, even though I am not part of their network. Insurance companies may approve an SCA if they determine that no in-network provider can meet your specific needs as effectively as I can.
How to Advocate for a Single Case Agreement:
To request a Single Case Agreement, start by contacting your insurance company and explaining why you need to work with me specifically. Be clear about how my experience, specialties, or location make me the best fit for your care, especially if you have unique needs that in-network providers cannot address. Some points you might highlight include my expertise in areas like [e.g., gender identity, grief, self-harm, or other relevant specializations]. It can also be helpful to mention that finding a provider who is a good match is critical to the success of your therapy.
If your insurance company requires additional information, I can provide supporting documentation to assist with the process. Remember, you are your best advocate! Don’t hesitate to ask your insurer about their policies and your rights.
How does out-of-network insurance work for therapy?
Superbills: I generate a superbill (or an itemized invoice) for out-of-network insurance reimbursement. The superbill contains all the necessary information for you to send to your insurance carrier in addition to your claim form. I send out the superbills to your email once a month, or more frequently per your request. The superbill must be submitted directly to your insurance provider in order for you to receive insurance payments for therapy sessions with me. Your superbill will include information such as my NPI number, dates and fee of services, and ICD-10 diagnosis code.
Will your insurance actually reimburse? Use the Mentaya calculator above to be sure that your insurance will accept your claim! It’s important to be familiar with your insurance policy if you want reimbursements for therapy sessions. In order for your insurance to reimburse you for the superbills that I provide, you must have something called “Out of Network” (OON) benefits. If you don’t have OON benefits, you may be personally billed for the cost of insurance sessions. Additionally, keep in mind the following questions:
What is your deductible? (The amount you pay before your insurance starts to pay)
What is your cost-share? (The part of the charges that you pay, which is different from an in-network co-pay)
What is your our-of-pocket maximum? (The maximum amount of money that you pay for OON services)
Is my insurance based in California? If not, will they reimburse for mental health services rendered in San Francisco, CA?
Are my OON benefits restricted to a particular type of psychotherapy? For example, some policies will only reimburse for Individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), but won’t support other types of mental health treatment (such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).
Claims: If you prefer to submit claims yourself, most people will be able to file a claim electronically by signing into their member portal on their insurance website. However, if you aren’t able to file your claim for reimbursement online, you’ll fill in a paper claim form, attach a copy of your superbill for sessions, and mail it to your insurance company.
You can find the claim form on your insurance company’s website, where you can print it out. (Some insurance companies use a different claim form for psychotherapy – it might be called a “behavioral health” claim form.)
Helpful Hint:
Write in bold letters (and highlight) on the claim form, “PATIENT HAS ALREADY PAID PROVIDER – PLEASE REIMBURSE PATIENT.”
Diagnosis:
You’ll enter this as a code, which will be on your superbill, probably next to the abbreviation “ICD-10” – for example, “ICD-10: F41.1”.
Place of service:
For psychotherapy in your therapist’s office, the code will typically be “Office,” which is code “11.”
Description of Services, or CPT:
“CPT” is the code for what kind of service your therapist provided, and should be on your superbill.
NPI number:
Otherwise known as National Provider Identifier, this is a unique identification number for covered health care providers. My NPI number is 1316331275.
Provider’s signature:
Fill this in with “See attached superbill.” Most of the time, this is sufficient.
Assignment:
Don’t sign anything that says “authorize assignment,” since you’ve already paid for your therapy session and are filing for reimbursement. If you authorize or assign your benefit, that means the insurance company will send payment to your therapist instead of you.
Follow up with your insurance company: After submitting the superbill, it is important to follow up with your insurance company to ensure that your claim has been processed and that you have been reimbursed for your therapy services. You can typically contact your insurance company by phone or email. You may be prompted to enter your policy number or other information to access your account. Be prepared to provide specific information about the therapy services provided on the superbill, including the diagnosis and fees charged. It is important to note that insurance companies can have different policies and procedures for processing claims, so it may take some time to get a response.
I cannot guarantee reimbursement for any claims.