Benefits of Private Pay Therapy
You are probably wondering, what are the benefits of private pay therapy as opposed to using insurance to pay for therapy? That’s a valid question. There are actually many benefits to private pay. Have you ever thought to yourself, wouldn’t it be great if insurance didn’t dictate my therapy treatment, if my diagnosis wasn’t on my permanent record, if I didn’t have to worry about what insurance was or wasn’t going to pay, or if I didn’t have to wait until insurance approves my treatment to start. If these are some of the thoughts you’ve had then private pay might just be for you. Below are some of the wonderful benefits for private pay therapy. Check them out!
One benefit is greater confidentiality and privacy. Because with private pay therapy, since there is not a third party paying for your treatment, they are not allowed access to any of your records, which increases confidentiality. This can create a safer space to share vulnerable topics without fear that anyone else will ever read the notes. You have complete control over who has access to your records, so that can create additional peace of mind.
Another benefit is greater autonomy over treatment. Without insurance involved, they cannot dictate treatment, including length or type. This grants you more control over the length, frequency, and type of therapy, including alternative or holistic approaches. It also gives you the freedom to choose the therapist you wish without the worry of being in network with your insurance company. It provides you more flexibility and control over treatment. It gives you the opportunity to take your time to work on your goals at your own pace. You can move slowly and you have the opportunity to get to the root of an issue without feeling rushed. You are truly in control of your treatment.
You’ll have faster access to treatment with private pay as you don’t have to wait for insurance to pre-approve your therapy treatment. There are also often waitlists associated with insurances. This is something that you can bypass with private pay. Therapists who do not accept insurance can often dedicate more time and energy to each client because they are not burdened by excessive paperwork and low reimbursement rates from insurance companies. Therefore, they will be able to get you in sooner and be more present during sessions.
With private pay therapy, insurance doesn’t dictate it, therefore, a formal diagnosis is not required. You can focus treatment on whatever you desire including stress management or relationship issues without a formal diagnosis. With private pay, you can bypass a diagnosis being placed on your formal record. A mental health diagnosis on your permanent medical record can potentially impact future life insurance or health insurance application. With a diagnosis comes stigma which you may want to avoid. You can avoid feeling the impact of having a label placed on your health record and feeling as though it’s following you around.
Another benefit with private pay therapy is no surprise bills, you’ll know what you are paying upfront. With insurance it can be a surprise if they will or won’t pay and you can be left with a huge unexpected bill. With private pay, you can plan for the payments without a surprise. In some cases, the out-of-pocket cost may be lower than using insurance, especially for individuals with high-deductible plans. You’ll have more control over your finances. There are so many things that can happen and surprise bills that can come, you don’t want therapy to be one of them.
Overall, private pay therapy offers many benefits and can be worth the cost for many. Private pay therapy might just be the way to go for you! Whatever decision you decide, it is very personal and this article was intended to educate only.