Insurance &
Out-of-Network Therapy
You deserve to choose your therapist based on fit—not just your insurance network.
Chelsea Turner Therapy is a private-pay, out-of-network therapy practice serving adults virtually in Maryland, Washington, DC, and New York. I do not participate directly with insurance companies or accept insurance as payment for sessions.
If your health insurance plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for a portion of the cost of therapy. You can also choose to pay privately without involving your insurance company.
Why Choose an Out-of-Network Therapist?
Working with an out-of-network therapist gives you more freedom to choose a therapist based on experience, specialization, therapeutic approach, and personal fit rather than limiting your search to providers who participate with your insurance plan.
More Choice
You can look for the therapist who is the best fit for you rather than choosing only from your insurance company's network.
Specialized Care
Out-of-network therapy can make it easier to seek specialized support for complex trauma, dissociation, autism, ADHD, and the intersection of trauma and neurodivergence.
More Control
Private-pay therapy gives you more control over whether your insurance company is involved in your care and whether you want to submit claims for reimbursement.
How Do Out-of-Network Benefits Work?
Out-of-network benefits are insurance benefits that may allow you to receive reimbursement when you see a therapist who is not part of your insurance company's network.
Depending on your plan, your insurance may reimburse a percentage of the allowed amount after you meet an out-of-network deductible. Some plans have no out-of-network benefits at all.
If your insurance plan offers out-of-network mental health benefits, you may be able to receive reimbursement while still choosing a therapist who is a good fit for your needs.
Questions to Ask Your Insurance Provider
I recommend calling the member services number on your insurance card to ask about your specific out-of-network mental health benefits. You may want to ask:
- Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
- Does my plan cover outpatient psychotherapy with an LCSW?
- What is my out-of-network deductible?
- What percentage of the allowed amount will my plan reimburse?
- Is there a limit on the number of sessions covered?
- Do I need a diagnosis for reimbursement?
- Do I need prior authorization?
- How do I submit a superbill?
- Is there a claim form or filing deadline I need to follow?
I cannot guarantee that your insurance company will reimburse you. Insurance plans vary, and you are responsible for understanding your benefits and any requirements for submitting claims.
The Superbill Process
If you have out-of-network benefits, I can provide a superbill, which is an itemized receipt containing the information insurance companies typically require for reimbursement.
You Pay for Your Session
Payment is made directly to Chelsea Turner Therapy at the time of service.
Your Superbill Is Generated
Sessions Health automatically generates your superbill at the end of each month for eligible services from the previous month.
You Submit It to Insurance
You submit the superbill directly to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.
Privacy, Diagnosis & Your Choice
Do I Need a Mental Health Diagnosis to Work With You?
Not necessarily. If you are paying privately and do not plan to submit claims to your insurance company, you may be able to receive therapy without having a diagnosis assigned for insurance billing purposes.
Insurance companies generally require a diagnosis when you submit a claim for mental health treatment. When you choose not to use insurance, your therapy does not need to be organized around which diagnosis an insurance company will recognize as medically necessary.
Can a Diagnosis Be Useful?
Absolutely. A diagnosis can be useful—and even empowering. For some people, having a name for their experiences provides validation, helps them understand themselves, connects them with a community, or makes it easier to access appropriate support and accommodations.
I do not view diagnosis as inherently negative or something to be avoided. At the same time, a diagnosis is a framework for understanding a person; it is not the person themselves.
Is Private-Pay Therapy More Private?
For some clients, paying privately means they can choose not to involve their insurance company in their therapy. This can feel more private and can give you greater control over whether information about your mental health treatment is submitted for reimbursement.
If you choose to use your out-of-network benefits, your superbill generally includes information such as your diagnosis, dates of service, type of service, and amount paid.
My goal is not to fit you
into a diagnosis. It is to understand you.
Can I Receive Therapy Without Being “Pathologized”?
Therapy does not have to begin with the assumption that there is something wrong with you that needs to be fixed.
My approach is grounded in understanding people in the context of their history, relationships, environment, nervous system, identity, and individual ways of experiencing the world.
A diagnosis can sometimes be useful—it can help communicate about symptoms, guide treatment, or provide access to resources—but a diagnosis is not the same thing as a person.
For some clients, particularly those who have felt misunderstood or over-pathologized in previous treatment, the ability to receive therapy without involving an insurance company can create more room to explore their experiences without having every aspect of their care organized around a diagnostic category.
Hello, World!
Additional Information
HSA & FSA
In many cases, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) can be used to pay for eligible mental health care, including psychotherapy.
Your HSA or FSA administrator can confirm whether your therapy expenses qualify and whether additional documentation is required.
Virtual Therapy
Chelsea Turner Therapy is a virtual therapy practice serving adults in Maryland, Washington, DC, and New York.
Sessions are conducted through a secure telehealth platform. Virtual therapy can be particularly helpful for people navigating transportation, sensory needs, disability, work schedules, or who simply feel more comfortable in their own environment.
Sessions Health
Sessions Health is the secure client portal I use to support the administrative and clinical aspects of your care.
You can attend virtual sessions, complete forms, manage billing, receive documents, securely message me, and access monthly superbills through the platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Have to Pay for Therapy Before Submitting a Superbill? +
Yes. Because Chelsea Turner Therapy is a private-pay, out-of-network practice, payment for therapy is due directly to the practice rather than being billed to your insurance company.
Will My Insurance Reimburse the Full Cost of Therapy? +
Not necessarily. Your reimbursement depends on your individual insurance plan, including your out-of-network deductible, coinsurance, reimbursement rate, and any applicable coverage limits.
How Do I Submit a Therapy Superbill? +
The process varies by insurance company. Some insurers allow you to upload your superbill through an online member portal, while others may require you to mail or fax it. Your insurance company can tell you exactly how to submit an out-of-network claim.
Will You Contact My Insurance Company for Me? +
Because I am an out-of-network provider, I generally do not communicate directly with your insurance company or submit claims on your behalf. You remain in control of your insurance relationship and submit your superbills directly to your insurance company.
What Information Will My Insurance Company Receive? +
When you submit a superbill for reimbursement, your insurance company will receive the information included on that document. This generally includes identifying information, provider information, dates of service, the type of psychotherapy service provided, the amount charged and paid, and a diagnosis code.
What If My Insurance Does Not Have Out-of-Network Benefits? +
You can still work with me as a private-pay client. Out-of-network reimbursement is not required to begin therapy. My dynamic pricing model offers Accessible, Standard, and Supporting rates, depending on availability.
What If I Don't Want to Use My Insurance? +
You do not have to use your insurance simply because you have insurance. If you choose not to seek reimbursement, you can pay privately for your sessions without submitting a superbill to your insurance company.
Can You Tell Me Whether My Insurance Will Cover Therapy? +
I can explain how out-of-network reimbursement generally works and provide the documentation needed for you to submit a claim, but I cannot determine your specific insurance benefits or guarantee reimbursement. Your insurance company is the best source for information about your individual plan.
Still Have Questions?
You don't have to choose between specialized care and using your insurance benefits.
If your plan offers out-of-network reimbursement, you may be able to receive some reimbursement while choosing a therapist based on experience, approach, and fit.
If you're looking for virtual therapy for complex trauma, dissociation, autism, ADHD, or the intersection of trauma and neurodivergence, I'd be happy to hear from you.