What To Do When You Can’t Find A Therapist That Takes Your Insurance

Have you ever tried looking for a therapist and got frustrated when you couldn’t find a therapist that has openings? 

Maybe the therapists you’re interested in don’t accept your insurance. Maybe all of the therapists that do accept your insurance aren’t taking new clients. 

It can feel defeating when you finally take the first steps to seeking a therapist to maintain your mental health and can’t find any one that is able to see you.

The reality is, therapy can be expensive. Finding a therapist that meets all your needs AND takes your insurance can almost feel like trying to find a unicorn! 

Though many people would prefer to use your health insurance to cover your sessions - because health insurance isn’t cheap either! - there are other options to looking for therapists that may prove more beneficial for you in your search to find a therapist. 

Here are a few recommendations to try when you hit a wall trying to find a therapist.

1. Consider paying out of pocket - It can seem overwhelming to look at the rates that therapists charge per session and consider trying to pay that every week to see someone. However, there are many quality therapists who don’t accept insurance and only do private pay. Though it may be more expensive, there are many benefits to doing so. The biggest benefit is that you may be able to schedule an appointment with someone much sooner because the barrier of making sure that they are in-network with your insurance is eliminated.

2. See them Bi-weekly - If you find a therapist that you’d love to work with, that has openings, but their rate is a little too high for you to be able to afford every week, consider talking to them about only seeing them every other week. This allows you to still get the support you may need without breaking the bank. 

3. Ask about sliding fee scale - If there is just no way for you to afford to pay anyone’s full rate, consider asking a potential therapist if they offer a sliding fee. Many therapists are willing to offer a sliding fee or reduced rate to those who are in need of services but finances are a barrier to receiving them. It doesn’t hurt to ask if they offer it.

4. Use your flexible spending account or health savings account (FSA/HSA) - Many employers offer FSA or HSA accounts. These accounts are meant to use pre-tax dollars to cover health expenses and therapy is a qualified expense. If you have this benefit, consider using it to cover out of pocket therapy expenses

5. Out-of-Network Benefits - If you do have health insurance, reach out to your insurance plan directly and ask if you have “out-of-network benefits for mental health”. Some insurance plans will help cover sessions or reimburse a portion of the amount you paid for sessions. 

6. Use EAP Benefits - Many employers have an Employee Assistance Program as part of their benefits package and many of them cover a limited amount of therapy sessions. If you are in need of speaking to a therapist but can’t afford to pay out of pocket, consider looking into your EAP plan to find a therapist to work with, usually short-term.

7. Look on OpenPath - OpenPath Collective is a great resource for finding therapists that offer a sliding fee scale or reduced rate sessions. Take a look at their directory and see if you can find someone that might be a good fit. 

You are not alone in your experience. If you need support, consider calling a local hotline. If you are not sure where to look for therapists, consider the many therapist directories we’ve listed in our resources section. Numbers to local and national hotlines and links to therapist directories we recommend can be found by clicking here.