An In-Network provider has a contract with your insurance company to accept a set rate. An Out-of-Network provider (like me) does not have a contract with the insurance company.

This allows us to maintain a higher level of privacy and use specialized modalities (like EMDR and holistic modalities) that insurance companies may otherwise restrict in-network.

However, you can still use your OON benefits to get a significant portion of your session fee reimbursed.

You can use the Thrizer Instant Benefits Calculator above or we can check your benefits together on our intro call (just have your insurance card handy)

Most "PPO" and "POS" insurance plans have out-of-network (OON) coverage, while "HMO" and "EPO" plans typically do not.

Common insurance plans like Aetna, BlueCross Blue Shield, Cigna, United, (and more) offer these plans.

Most clients I work with receive 50-80% reimbursed after their deductible is met.

Once your deductible is met, "Thrizer Pay" allows you to skip the wait for a reimbursement check.

Instead of paying $225 and waiting weeks for the insurance company to pay you back, you only pay your co-insurance (your portion of the cost) at the time of the session. I receive my full fee through Thrizer and they wait for your insurance to reimburse them while you keep more money in your bank account upfront.

Your total out-of-pocket cost depends on your specific insurance plan and whether or not you have met your deductible. Here is exactly what those transactions look like:

• If your deductible is NOT met:

  • What you pay: The full session fee of $225.

  • The benefit: I submit the claim immediately so that every dollar counts toward your deductible right away.

  • Thrizer fee: $0 (There is typically no filing fee until you begin receiving reimbursements).

• If your deductible IS met and you use "Thrizer Pay":

  • What you pay: Only your co-insurance (the portion insurance doesn't cover, e.g., $45).

  • The benefit: You keep more money in your bank account upfront rather than waiting for a check.

  • Thrizer fee: A 5% claim filing fee is added to the session cost.

• If your deductible IS met and you use "OON Pay":

  • What you pay: The full session fee of $225.

  • The benefit: You receive your reimbursement via direct deposit in a few weeks.

  • Thrizer fee: A 1% claim filing fee is added to the session cost.

• If you choose "Superbill Upload":

  • What you pay: The full session fee of $225.

  • The benefit: You have more control over when the claim is filed.

  • Thrizer fee: A flat $2 fee per session upload.

How we find your "Actual Cost"

During our Intro Call, I will run your specific plan through the Thrizer calculator to give you "to-the-cent" estimates. We will look at three key numbers:

• Your Co-insurance: The percentage your insurance covers (usually 60%–80%).

• The Allowed Amount: The maximum "price" your insurance sets for a therapy session.

• The Final Total: Your exact expected out-of-pocket cost per session once your deductible is met.

Most clients with OON benefits find their final per-session investment is between $45 and $150.

What if I haven’t met my out-of-network deductible yet?

If you haven't met your deductible, you will pay the full session fee ($225) at the time of our appointment.

Thrizer will still file the claim for you automatically so that every dollar you spend counts toward your deductible immediately.

Once that "bucket" is full, your insurance reimbursements will kick in.

I handle all billing and claim submissions for you, so it’s completely hands off as a courtesy to you.

What happens when my deductible resets?

Most insurance deductibles reset annually (usually on January 1st). This means that even if you were previously receiving reimbursements, you will likely need to pay the full session fee until you meet your new deductible for the year.

My Goal is No Surprises:

• Plan Variations: While most plans follow the calendar year, some rare plans reset quarterly or mid-year (based on your employer's specific enrollment cycle). During our intro call, we will confirm your plan's specific "Reset Date" so we aren't caught off guard.

• Automatic Tracking: Thrizer tracks this for us. You can see how close you are to your deductible at any time in your dashboard.

• Proactive Reminders: As the end of the year approaches, we can discuss your progress so you can plan your budget for the new year with total clarity.

• Immediate Credit: Even while you are paying the full fee, Thrizer files the claims immediately so every dollar counts toward your new deductible from day one.

What happens if my insurance plan changes during our work together?

Life happens, and job or plan changes are common. If your insurance coverage changes at any point, please let me know as soon as possible. We can re-run your new benefits through the Instant Benefits Calculator and update your Thrizer settings together. My goal is to ensure your transition is seamless so that your financial peace of mind—and our work in session—remains the priority.

Do I need to know anything else about my deductible?

The most important thing to know is that your Out-of-Network (OON) deductible is often separate from your In-Network deductible.

If you’ve already met your deductible by seeing an in-network primary care doctor, it may not apply to our work together. This is a common point of confusion, which is why I offer to check your specific "Out-of-Network" plan details during our intro call. We’ll look at:

1. Your OON deductible total.

2. How much you’ve already contributed to it this year.

3. Your "Co-insurance" percentage (the amount they pay once the deductible is met).

Thrizer charges a small platform fee (typically 1% to 5% per claim) to provide automated filing of claims. Here’s what you can expect:

• Thrizer Pay (pay only your co-insurance): 5% claim filing fee per session

• OON Pay (pay full session fee and wait for reimbursement): 1% claim filing fee per session

• Superbill upload (I send you the documentation, you upload to Thrizer): $2 per session

We will go over these specific numbers during our intro call so you have total clarity on your per-session investment.

Note: I handle all claim submissions and billing with Thrizer Pay and OON Pay options (these options are fully hands-off to you). If you choose Superbill Upload, you are responsible for uploading for claim submission.

If you prefer to avoid additional fees: I am always happy to provide you with a Superbill at no extra cost and walk you through how to upload it to your own insurance portal. While this is a great free option, please note that reimbursement may not be as fast as using the Thrizer platform. We will go over these specific numbers during our intro call so you have total clarity on your investment.

I do not benefit from your participation or use of Thrizer. I simply use Thrizer as a partner to make courtesy-billing easier for you.

Nope! I will handle it all for you.

All you need to do is create a profile in Thrizer with the invite I send, link your insurance, and store your preferred payment method (Credit card, debit card, HSA/FSA)

The only exception to paperwork is if you prefer to use their Superbill Upload option instead of me submitting claims for you with Thrizer Pay or OON pay.

When you choose the OON Pay option, you pay my full session fee ($225) at the time of our appointment. I submit the claim through Thrizer immediately after our session.

Once the claim is processed by your insurance company, your reimbursement is typically deposited directly into your linked bank account within some weeks (usually 2-3 weeks).

Why use OON Pay through Thrizer instead of doing it yourself?

• Faster Processing: Because Thrizer submits the claim electronically and monitors it for errors, it often processes significantly faster than a manual paper superbill.

• Direct Deposit: You don’t have to wait for a physical check to arrive in the mail or deal with it getting lost—the funds go straight back to your account.

• Automatic Follow-up: If a claim is denied or stuck, Thrizer’s team steps in to handle the "insurance runaround" so you don't have to spend your lunch break on hold with a representative.

On rare occasions, reimbursement could take 30-60 days. This depends on your insurance carrier and their processing times, but Thrizer will follow up to make sure you get reimbursed.

I provide 60-minute individual sessions. Many practices offer a "clinical hour" which is only 45–50 minutes, but I find that the extra time allows us to transition deeper into somatic work or parts work without feeling rushed.

If either of us feels you need more time to process and integrate, we can explore intensive sessions ranging from the 75 minutes to 3 hours.

Yes. To get reimbursed by insurance (even for out-of-network care), a clinical diagnosis is required. This becomes part of your permanent medical record. As an LCSW, I believe in full transparency, we will discuss your diagnosis together during our intake to ensure you are comfortable with how your information is being shared with your carrier.

When it comes to our sessions, I don’t view a diagnosis as a label that means something is “wrong” with you. I look at a diagnosis through a lived-experience and systems lens meaning “what happened to you.”

No, you are not required to use your insurance benefits. While insurance can make therapy more accessible, many clients choose to "Private Pay" (pay the full fee out-of-pocket without seeking reimbursement) for several reasons:

• Total Privacy: When you use insurance, I am required to provide them with a clinical diagnosis and, occasionally, session notes or treatment plans. If you Private Pay, your records stay entirely between us, and no information is shared with your insurance carrier or added to your permanent medical record.

• No "Medical Necessity" Hurdles: Insurance companies only pay for treatment they deem "medically necessary." Private paying allows us to work on what you feel is important—such as personal growth, relational patterns, or somatic healing—without a third party deciding if your concerns are "serious enough" to warrant care.

• Creative Flexibility: We are free to integrate holistic tools like Reiki, extended 60-minute sessions, or specific intensive trauma work without worrying about whether an insurance company "authorizes" those specific modalities.

The Choice is Yours: During our consultation, we can discuss the pros and cons of both options. My goal is to ensure you feel empowered to choose the path that best protects your privacy and supports your healing journey.

If your insurance plan is an HMO, EPO, or simply doesn't offer out-of-network coverage, you won't be able to receive reimbursement for our sessions. However, you can still navigate the investment using these tools:

• HSA/FSA Cards: You can pay for your sessions using pre-tax dollars from a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account. This often results in a 20-30% savings effectively, depending on your tax bracket.

• Total Confidentiality: When you pay out-of-pocket without insurance, your therapy remains completely private. No diagnosis, treatment plan, or session summary is ever shared with a third party. Your care is guided entirely by your goals, not an insurance company’s "medical necessity" requirements.

• Referral Support: I want to ensure you get the support you need. If my rate doesn't align with your current budget, I am more than happy to provide a list of trusted colleagues or community resources that may be a better financial fit for you right now.

Under the No Surprises Act, you have the right to receive a "Good Faith Estimate" explaining how much your medical care will cost.

I provide this to all clients before our first session so there are never any unexpected bills or hidden fees.