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You may be questioning, “why don’t all therapists accept insurance?” During your search for a therapist in Simi Valley, you’re finding that not all therapists accept insurance. In fact, it can be very inconsistent in the type of insurance each one accepts. Some therapists accept several insurances, while others only accept a handful.
With feeling burnt out from your search, you’re feeling defeated. Even if a therapist accepts your insurance, they may not have the availability you need. This therapist may not work with children, specific issues, or feel like a good fit overall. It’s understandable that you’re feeling frustrated that not all therapists accept insurance.
Depending on what you’re needing, it may feel like the perfect fit therapist doesn’t exist out there. You can’t do virtual therapy from home, which some virtual therapists accept a plethora of insurances. You want to do therapy in-person, but that group practice is private pay only.
However, don’t give up hope. There are the right resources out there for you to provide support. They just might not be in plain sight. Are you looking around for a therapist, googling “therapists near me?” Consider starting individual therapy in Simi Valley with one of our amazing clinicians.
Concerns Around Mental Health Care Accessibility
It’s valid and understandable that it feels difficult to find accessible mental health care. You’re already dealing with a lot on your plate. You’re seeking relief for everyday stressors, but private therapy is out of the question. You just want to connect with the right support, as you know you would benefit from it.
It’s important to know that while there are private therapists or group practices, there are therapists or groups that accept arrays of insurances. Some private therapists may still offer a sliding scale, such as accepting around $100 per session depending on their practices. There are several directories to search for a therapist that accepts your insurance, such as:
There are also different directories that guide you towards free or low cost therapy. In Los Angeles county, visit NAMI West Los Angeles as it provides hotlines, support groups, and various counseling centers. Some resources in this list include Didi Hirsch, Pepperdine Counseling Center, and the Maple Counseling Center.
In Ventura county, there are more resources available for low cost counseling. This includes the CLU (California Lutheran University) Counseling Center in Thousand Oaks. The Simi Valley Free Clinic in Simi Valley also offers free or low cost services. There is also the Maple Counseling Center in Ventura that offers affordable counseling services.
Privacy Concerns
So, why don’t all therapists accept insurance? Depending on the provider or platform they use, there may be a lack of privacy into your therapy experience. This does not mean that your information is public, as your confidential information is kept confidential. However, insurances may use your therapy information to determine if you are actually in need of services or not.
There are some insurance plans that may need proof of medical necessity for coverage. Before covering treatment, there may need to be some authorization for the insurance to proceed. This ultimately depends on your plan and benefits. Such proof can be obtained from the therapist themselves, after providing a treatment summary and clinical judgment.
Some people may not want their therapy information in their health records. There could be concerns around other family members having access to your health insurance, such as being listed as a child or spouse on file. You may be seeking therapy for LGBTQIA+ issues, for example, and not want these records on file.
Limitations on Psychotherapy per Insurance
Alongside privacy concerns, there could also be limitations placed on how many therapy sessions you’re allowed per your annual contract. Your insurance may only cover 25 sessions, before considering it an out-of-pocket service. Therefore, it’s important to understand your plan benefits and what you can expect.
It’s understandable that you don’t want your insurance to control your therapeutic experience. Therapists don’t want that either. Especially if you are presenting with issues that require consistent support, it can be difficult to continue care under these conditions. However, this is not a common case with all insurances, and is something to keep in mind and be aware of.
Making a Living Wage as a Therapist
Health insurance has been a major topic of discussion these days. Rates are becoming unaffordable, medical needs aren’t being covered or considered, and more. It’s frustrating to navigate, and you feel that you’re constantly chasing around someone for answers. For some therapists, they also want to avoid the headache, and avoid working with insurance based on possible limitations.
Insurance companies pay contracted therapists differing rates depending on several factors. Therapists are often having to negotiate their fee with insurance companies, to ensure that they can make a living wage in this business. Notoriously, there have been concerns around companies like Kaiser, with therapists going on strike back in October 2023.
The strike occurred due to staffing shortages, excessive workload, and seeking higher wages and benefits. Ultimately, it appears that there may have been a new contract reinstated for Kaiser that addressed these issues.
Education to Become a Therapist and Further Training
Most therapists aren’t going into this field to make more than six figures a year. They are therapists due to a passion and drive to support people going through difficult times. Therapists may be interested in connecting with people with autism, significant trauma, domestic violence, depression, and more. They’ve chosen this career based on that desire, and rarely come out making a life changing salary.
Schooling to become a therapist is not an easy or cheap feat. The cost for such a degree ranges from $20,000 to $100,000. With student loan debt, some therapists find themselves trapped into paying twice the amount they initially borrowed – even when consistently paying back. This produces a financial strain, as the field itself doesn’t always offer high paying jobs out of the gate.
Alongside basic education to become a marriage and family therapist, some therapists attend additional training. These trainings are specific to realms of therapy or targeted issues. Trainings to become competent in these areas can cost thousands of dollars, such as for EMDR. Therefore, some therapists who specialize in these areas may not accept insurance.
While therapists are supposed to continue their education after licensure, they can still find themselves paying hundreds of dollars out of pocket for basic educational modules. Due to this, therapists are putting a lot of time and effort into crafting their practice and strengthening their skills to the best of their abilities.
Up to the Therapist to Accept Insurance or Not
It’s ultimately up to the therapist to accept insurance or not. Some experience rarely any problems being contracted with insurance. They’re happy with their rate, meet with their preferred clientele, and have flexibility with their schedule. Some insurance platforms even handle their billing and insurance needs. This makes the process very easy for them to accept insurance.
Luckily, behavioral health is a part of most insurance plan coverage, as it is a medical necessity at times. Hopefully the recognized importance of mental health treatment continues to grow and expand. By accepting insurance, therapists are able to connect with many clients, both virtually or in-person. Clients can experience less financial strain knowing that they’re only paying a co-pay instead of out of pocket.
Some therapists accept insurance to better accommodate their communities. Other therapists want to accommodate their communities, but don’t want to do so through insurance. It’s also up to you as a client of which route you want to take for starting therapy. There are wonderful, competent clinicians that accept insurance and that do not accept insurance. It all depends on preference, the right fit, and what works best for you.
At New Leaf Marriage & Family Therapy, we have values to connect you to the right support. If we aren’t a good fit for your needs, we’ll do our best to help guide you in the right direction. Consider giving us a call today for a free consultation on therapy in Simi Valley!
In-person therapy in Simi Valley is ideal for those seeking a separate, safe space from their home. Check out our blog on Online Therapy or In Office Therapy to understand what format is best for you. Another great blog to read is ours on if you need Therapy or Medication to address your issues.
By seeking out support, you can begin your journey to feeling relief. You don’t have to go through finding the right level of support alone, either. By clicking here, you’ll read our blog on Information About Simi Valley Therapists.
Consider calling our therapy group at (805) 774-1506 for a free consultation on how you or a loved one can get started today!
Seek out a validating, safe environment with us today. We will help you get to where you want to be. Our therapists provide trauma therapy, teen therapy, individual adult therapy, LGBTQIA+ therapy, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, family therapy, and more in-office in Simi Valley, CA.