--- title: "Using Insurance for Therapy | Growth & Guidance" url: https://growthguidancecounselingservices.com/using-insurance-for-therapy/ description: "How to check your behavioral health benefits, which plans we accept, and what to ask your insurer before therapy, plus sliding-scale and payment options." lang: en --- Skip to content ← Back to Blog: https://growthguidancecounselingservices.com/blog # Using Insurance for Therapy: A Plain-Language Guide Growth & Guidance Counseling October 7, 20265 min read Insurance questions shouldn't be the reason you put off getting support. This guide walks through how to check your benefits, what to ask, and how payment works at Growth & Guidance. ## Plans we accept Growth & Guidance accepts the following plans: - Aetna - Aetna Better Health - Anthem - Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) - Carelon - Cigna - CountyCare - Guideline Health - Magellan - Medicaid (YouthCare, WellCare) - Medicare Part B - Meridian - Oscar - TRICARE West - UnitedHealthcare (UHC) - UMR - Georgia Medicaid Your plan must include behavioral health outpatient office benefits. We also accept various Employee Assistance Program (EAP) companies, so please contact our office to find out whether yours applies. Coverage can vary by state and plan, so contact our office and we will verify your benefits. The same list, along with our session rates, is on our Rates & Insurance page (https://growthguidancecounselingservices.com/rates). ## What 'behavioral health outpatient benefits' means Insurance plans usually list mental health care under a category called behavioral health. Outpatient means you come to scheduled appointments rather than staying in a hospital or program. Office benefits cover visits with a provider, which is the kind of coverage regular therapy sessions use. When you call your insurer, ask specifically about outpatient behavioral health or mental health office visits with a licensed therapist. If you plan to use telehealth, ask whether video sessions are covered too. ## Questions to ask your insurance company The member services number on your insurance card is usually the fastest way to get answers. Questions worth asking: - Do I have outpatient behavioral health benefits for therapy? - Is there a deductible I need to meet first, and how much of it is left? - What is my copay or coinsurance per session? - Is there a limit on the number of sessions per year? - Do I need a referral or prior authorization? - Are telehealth sessions covered the same way as in-person visits? Write down the date, the name of the person you spoke with, and a reference number if they give you one. If it all feels like a lot, that's okay. Our office will verify your benefits too. ## Using an Employee Assistance Program Some employers offer an Employee Assistance Program, or EAP, that includes counseling sessions. We accept various EAP companies. Check with your HR department or your EAP provider first, and then contact our office to see whether your EAP applies. ## If you'd rather not use insurance You can also pay privately, whether for flexibility, privacy, or because your plan isn't on our list. Our session rates are: - Initial therapy intake session: $180 - Individual counseling: $170 per session - Couples counseling: $200 per session - Family counseling: $200 per session - Group counseling: $200 per session, which may vary with group size Sliding-scale rates from $50 to $100 and monthly payment plans are also available. Ask about them on your free consult. ## A note on cancellations Please notify the office at least 48 hours in advance if you need to cancel. Without 48 hours' notice, the full session fee is billed. This fee is not covered by insurance and is billed directly to the client. ## Getting started The easiest first step is a free 10-minute phone consultation. During the brief intake that follows, we collect the basics and confirm your benefits. You can book your consult online (https://growthguidancecounselingservices.com/book) or send us a message (https://growthguidancecounselingservices.com/contact-us). Please don't include health details in website forms. Have other questions about cost or coverage? Our FAQ page (https://growthguidancecounselingservices.com/frequently-asked-questions) answers many of them. ## Common questions ### Do you accept Medicaid? Our accepted plans include Medicaid (YouthCare, WellCare) and Georgia Medicaid. Plans must include behavioral health outpatient office benefits, and coverage can vary by state and plan, so contact our office and we will verify your benefits. ### Do you accept Medicare? Medicare Part B is on our list of accepted plans. Coverage can vary by plan, so contact our office and we will verify your benefits. ### Will insurance cover telehealth sessions? It depends on your plan. Ask your insurer whether video sessions are covered the same way as in-person visits, and our office can help verify your benefits. ### What if my plan isn't listed? Contact our office. Coverage can vary, and private pay, sliding-scale rates from $50 to $100, and monthly payment plans are available. Questions about coverage? Book a free 10-minute consult, and we'll help you sort out your options. Book a free 10-min consult: https://calendly.com/growthguidancecounseling/free-consultation Back to Blog: https://growthguidancecounselingservices.com/blog ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "Growth & Guidance Counseling", "alternateName": "Growth & Guidance Counseling, LLC", "url": "https://growthguidancecounselingservices.com/" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Using Insurance for Therapy: A Plain-Language Guide", "description": "How to check your behavioral health benefits, which plans we accept, and what to ask your insurer before therapy, plus sliding-scale and payment options.", "datePublished": "2026-10-07", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Growth & Guidance Counseling" }, "publisher": { "@type": "MedicalClinic", "name": "Growth & Guidance Counseling" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://growthguidancecounselingservices.com/using-insurance-for-therapy/" }, "url": "https://growthguidancecounselingservices.com/using-insurance-for-therapy/" }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://growthguidancecounselingservices.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Informational Blog", "item": "https://growthguidancecounselingservices.com/blog/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Using Insurance for Therapy: A Plain-Language Guide", "item": "https://growthguidancecounselingservices.com/using-insurance-for-therapy/" } ] } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you accept Medicaid?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Our accepted plans include Medicaid (YouthCare, WellCare) and Georgia Medicaid. Plans must include behavioral health outpatient office benefits, and coverage can vary by state and plan, so contact our office and we will verify your benefits." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you accept Medicare?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Medicare Part B is on our list of accepted plans. Coverage can vary by plan, so contact our office and we will verify your benefits." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will insurance cover telehealth sessions?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It depends on your plan. Ask your insurer whether video sessions are covered the same way as in-person visits, and our office can help verify your benefits." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What if my plan isn't listed?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Contact our office. Coverage can vary, and private pay, sliding-scale rates from $50 to $100, and monthly payment plans are available." } } ] } ] ```