Cover Psychotherapy Cost With Your Out-of-Network Benefits
If your insurance is EmblemHealth, BlueCross BlueShield, 1199SEIU, Beacon Health Options, or ComPsych, we’re not in your plan’s network — but that doesn’t mean therapy isn’t covered. Most of these plans include out-of-network mental health benefits, and many clients end up paying close to what they’d pay in-network once reimbursement comes through. We handle the paperwork — superbills, claim submission, and follow-up — so you’re not the one stuck on hold with your insurer.
The plans we accept
Common among NYC municipal employees and members of GHI/HIP-based plans. EmblemHealth’s out-of-network mental health benefit varies significantly by specific plan (City of New York employees, for instance, often have distinct behavioral health riders) — we verify your exact benefit before your first session.
BCBS isn’t one company — it’s a federation of independent, regional Blue plans (Empire BlueCross in NY, Horizon in NJ, and others depending on where your plan was issued). This means your specific reimbursement rate depends heavily on which BCBS company issued your card, not just the BCBS name. We confirm this for you as part of verification.
The health plan for members of the 1199SEIU healthcare workers’ union (often called the National Benefit Fund). These plans frequently include a genuinely strong out-of-network mental health benefit — many 1199SEIU members are surprised how much of their session cost comes back to them.
A behavioral-health-specific plan administrator (now operating in some markets as Carelon Behavioral Health) — similar in structure to how Optum administers mental health benefits for UnitedHealthcare. Beacon manages the mental health portion of a larger medical plan rather than being the insurer itself.
Often an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) administrator rather than a standalone insurance plan. If ComPsych appears on your benefits through your employer, you may have a set number of free short-term counseling sessions before any insurance billing applies at all — worth checking with your HR department alongside your standard mental health benefit.
For these plans, you pay your session fee upfront and we provide a superbill you (or we, depending on your plan) submit for reimbursement.
The following plans we accept:
- Aither Health
- NYSHIP The Empire Plan
- NYS Department of Civil Service The Empire Plan
- Beacon Health Options
- Emblem Health GHI
- Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
- CareFirst Blue Choice
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Empire BCBS Premium Plus Plan 425
- Northwell Direct
- New York State PPO Commercial
- BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois PPO
- Anthem HealthChoice Assurance Medicare Supplement
- Empire BCBS Blue Options
Most clients using out-of-network benefits end up paying between 0% and 20% of the total session cost out of pocket once reimbursement is complete - though this depends entirely on your specific plan.
How out-of-network billing actually works
Out-of-network billing runs differently than in-network billing, but it’s more straightforward than it sounds:
- You pay your session fee at the time of service ($125–$350, depending on your therapist).
- We provide a superbill — an itemized receipt with your diagnosis code, procedure (CPT) code, session date, and our provider's NPI number, which is what your insurer needs to process a reimbursement claim.
- The claim gets submitted — for many clients, we handle this step directly; for others, we provide everything needed for you to submit it yourself, depending on your plan's process.
- Your insurer reimburses you directly, based on your plan's out-of-network benefit percentage, once your deductible (if any) has been met.
Let's verify your out-of-network coverage
You can help speed up the process by uploading photos of the front and back of your insurance card, along with your, phone number, date of birth and ZIP code, when completing the form. This allows us to begin verifying your insurance benefits right away, reducing back-and-forth communication and helping you get scheduled sooner.
Prefer to talk? Call 347-426-6072
Have a different plan? We're in-network with:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "out-of-network" actually mean?
It means we don’t have a direct contract with that specific insurance company, so we’re not part of their provider network. But you can still use your insurance to cover therapy services provided by Mind in Motion, the billing and reimbursement process just works differently than it would with an in-network plan.
Do I need a referral to see an out-of-network therapist?
Generally, no. Out-of-network mental health benefits typically don’t require a referral, though it’s worth confirming with your specific plan, especially if you have an HMO-style plan without any out-of-network benefit at all.
What's a superbill, and how do I get one?
A superbill is an itemized receipt of your session that includes everything your insurer needs to process a reimbursement claim — your diagnosis code, the CPT procedure code, session date, and our provider’s NPI number. We provide this automatically as part of our billing process.
How much of my session cost will I actually get back?
It depends entirely on your specific plan’s out-of-network benefit. Many clients end up paying between 0% and 20% of the total cost out of pocket once reimbursement comes through, but this varies. We’ll provide you with as much information as possible prior your first visit.
Do you submit the claim for me, or do I have to do it myself?
For many of these plans, we handle claim submission directly. For others, we provide you with everything you need to submit the claim yourself. We’ll let you know which applies to your plan during verification.
What if my claim gets denied?
We look into the reason for the denial and help resubmit with any missing or corrected information where possible. If you’re ultimately responsible for a larger portion of the fee than expected, we’re happy to discuss a payment plan.
Can I use my HSA or FSA for out-of-network sessions?
Yes. HSA and FSA funds can generally be used for out-of-network mental health services, including any portion of the fee your insurance doesn’t reimburse.
Why doesn't Mind in Motion accept EmblemHealth, BCBS, 1199SEIU, Beacon, or ComPsych in-network?
We made a deliberate choice to stay out-of-network with these plans so that treatment decisions, session length, frequency, and clinical approach, stay between you and your therapist rather than being subject to insurer approval. We’re happy to walk you through exactly what that means for your specific coverage.
Do you accept insurance plans I don't see listed anywhere on your site?
Possibly. Reach out to our Care Coordinator with your specific plan and we’ll confirm whether we’re in-network, out-of-network, or need to check directly with your insurer.
