The cost of treating a psychiatric condition should never be the reason for its postponement. Yet it is an important factor that most people consider before they choose any psychiatrists in Louisville KY. And if you don’t have health insurance, this worry can be much greater. In this article, we give you a complete breakdown of what psychiatric treatment costs for people with insurance and those without it. So, if you are wondering how much a therapist Louisville KY costs, this post is for you. Continue reading to learn more.
How Much Does it Cost to See a Psychiatrist?
The cost charged by psychiatrists differs from one provider to another. The best way to find out is to ask your psychiatrist before you make your first visit.
On average, a psychiatrist will charge you $100-$200 per session, although initial appointments are slightly more expensive. Remember also that any extra mental health service provided to you can raise the cost of therapy and care.
The cost of initial consultation can be anywhere between $300 and $500 because the time it takes to conduct the first evaluation is usually much longer. Also, the workload of the psychiatrist where new patients are involved is higher. During the initial visit, the psychiatrist may order lab tests, blood work, and any other test to help them determine if your condition is caused by other medical conditions. Also, this process helps the therapist Louisville KY to make the best recommendations for your treatment. You will not be charged additional fees once an evaluation has been done. You can expect to pay a lower per-hour fee after the first appointment. Some psychiatrists charge higher than average prices depending on their years of experience, demand, specialty expertise, and location.
Other than the psychiatrist’s fees, other costs may be specialized treatments, necessary bloodwork if required, and prescribed tests. These additional costs can also make the initial fee to be higher.
The Cost of Seeing a Psychiatrist when you have Insurance
When you have insurance coverage, the cost of seeing a psychiatrist will depend on your insurance policy and the fees charged by individual psychiatrists. Several insurance factors affect how much you will pay out-of-pocket. They include the following:
Referral costs
Is a referral needed before seeing a psychiatrist? If your insurance demands a referral, then the first thing you need to do is see your primary doctor. In this case, the first charges you will come up against are your doctor’s fees.
Typically, expect to pay your normal copay for the visit. Copays refer to reasonable, one-off expenses you are charged when you visit a health center. However, if a referral isn’t specifically required, you are free to call a psychiatrist right away and make an appointment for yourself or even a family member. You don’t have to be referred by a primary care doctor.
In vs. out-of-network costs
Another thing that will have a large bearing on the cost of psychiatric treatment is whether your psychiatrist or therapist is in or out of network. Typically, in-network providers are much less expensive. Ask your insurer for psychiatrists that are in-network. Alternatively, you can directly call a provider’s office and inquire if they accept health coverage or not. After taking these considerations into account, what you will be charged will depend on how the psychiatrist calculates your out-of-pocket expenses.
When you don’t have insurance
Without health insurance, you will be the one to bear the entire fees for the psychiatric appointments. The cost of the initial appointment, as noted, is around $500. Thereafter, it will be much less, like $100-$200 per session.
But this does not mean you have to splash the cash on treatment even if you cannot manage. Ask your psychiatrist to help you with treatment costs. Many psychiatrists in Louisville KY are open to offering sliding scale fees (determined depending on what a patient can afford). You may be surprised by how many providers are open to helping you find how to greatly reduce the price of seeing a therapist Louisville ky, even if you do not have health insurance.
Does Insurance Cater for Sa Psychiatrist Visit?
In most cases, health insurances cover psychiatric visits though not always. However, the coverage you get is what tends to vary. Some plans do demand a referral from your primary care physician, and others will cover only in-network providers. But if you want to be treated by an out-of-network psychiatrist, most insurance plans still cover some portions of the treatment cost.
Your insurance contacts in-network providers that take part in their plans. These providers then agree to accept agreed negotiated rates for psychiatric care and services. The following are the steps for checking if a therapist Louisville KY is in-network:
- Check the website of your insurance carrier
- Check the website of your healthcare provider
- Call the office of the healthcare provider
- Get in touch with your insurance company
The easiest thing would be to call the provider you have chosen and request them to give you their TaxID number. After that, call up your health insurer and verify that the said provider is in-network. Insurance providers can verify in-network providers more easily using TaxID than with names and addresses. Note also that more and more plans have begun to cover telemedicine online psychiatric appointments apart from in-person services.
Conclusion
While there is no shortage of psychiatrists in Louisville KY, not all of them are board-certified and can provide the specific mental healthcare services you need. Therefore, make sure your psychiatrist is board-certified and also check their fees. Only then should you schedule your first appointment.
You should never postpone seeking mental healthcare services because of cost. You can always find a therapist Louisville KY that offers affordable treatment plans so you don’t delay your treatment and allow the condition to worsen. Also, speak with your provider to see if they can offer you discounts.