To learn more about fees and insurances, select an area below:
Payment
Payment is accepted in the form of cash, credit/debit card, Health Savings Account (HSA), Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and is due at each session.
Cancelation Policy
When you make an appointment one of our clinicians, we reserve that appointment time exclusively for you. If you notice a conflict with your appointment time, please contact your clinician to cancel or reschedule as soon as possible. We require a minimum of 24-hour notice to cancel or reschedule your scheduled session. Failure to cancel, reschedule, or show up for your session without providing 24-hour notice will result in our cancellation fee being charged. This fee is detailed in your Fee Agreement that is signed prior to or during your initial appointment. This policy allows our practice to offer the available time slot to waitlisted individuals in need of an appointment.
Insurances Accepted
Our Chicago, IL and Austin, TX offices are considered in-network with the following*:
Aetna
Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Cigna
Humana
Moda Health (Texas Only)
Optum
Oscar
Sana Benefits
United Healthcare
United Behavioral Health
UMR
Prior to your first appointment, we check insurance benefits for you and send an email with an estimate of your coverage and financial responsibility. During the scheduling call, you will be asked to provide your insurance information. Additionally, you will be asked to send a picture of the front and back of your insurance card.
*Please check with our Client Care Coordinator to verify if your clinician is an in-network provider with your insurance company.
**Please note that insurance benefits are an agreement between you and your insurance company. Bright Light Counseling Center cannot guarantee any insurance coverage or reimbursement. If you have eligibility concerns or questions, please contact your insurance provider directly.**
Out of Network Benefits
Do you have mental health benefits through a company that we are not an in-network provider? Not a problem! We accept your Out of Network insurance benefits and will file claims on your behalf. For insurance companies that Bright Light Counseling Center does not accept, we are considered out-of-network. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network benefits and we work to ease your use of these benefits. At the time of your session, we will collect the full fee and submit a claim on your behalf to your insurance company. If you have Out-of-Network provider benefits you may receive reimbursement directly from your insurance company. Please call your insurance provider for more information about coverage for outpatient mental health services.
If you chose to utilize your insurance and seek reimbursement for your Out-of-Network Benefits, we encourage you to contact your insurance company prior to your first session and ask the following questions:
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Do I have mental health/behavioral health coverage?
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What percentage of my bill will be covered for services obtained by an Out-of-Network Provider?
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How many sessions will be covered per calendar year?
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What is my deductible and has it been met?
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Is approval required form my primary care physician?
Self-Pay
Unsure about using your insurance? Not comfortable using insurance for mental health services? We offer private pay options that are commensurate with other providers in the community. By taking advantage of our self-pay option we can create a counseling and psychotherapy experience that makes sense for your individualized needs—not what your insurance plan says. Let us remove one barrier - insurance companies.
Advantages of Self-Pay
• Convenience: Finding a therapist may be easier, as some people have trouble finding a therapist through their insurance.
• Increased Confidentiality: Insurance companies require clinical information be released to document the necessity of care. At a minimum, this includes a mental health diagnosis and dates of service. At times, insurance companies request clinical information to justify continued coverage of therapy appointments. Evidence of care and sometimes clinical information is seen by a number of insurance employees. If the claim is in network and your coverage allows a specific number of visits, your therapist will have to discuss your case with insurance employees in order to negotiate additional sessions. This means revealing progress updates. Self-pay clients enjoy the peace of mind knowing that the confidential information shared in therapy stays between them and the therapist.
•Control: Your insurance company cannot tell you how long you can stay in therapy or what your treatment should entail. Those decisions remain to be made mutually between you and your therapist. You also can also participate in treatment geared towards addressing what the insurance company defines as a non-covered service or not medically necessary. For instance, self-exploration and development of personal insight and growth.
Self-Pay
Unsure about using your insurance? Not comfortable using insurance for mental health services? We offer private pay options that are commensurate with other providers in the community. By taking advantage of our self-pay option we can create a counseling and psychotherapy experience that makes sense for your individualized needs—not what your insurance plan says. Let us remove one barrier - insurance companies.
Advantages of Self-Pay
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Convenience: Finding a therapist may be easier, as some people have trouble finding a therapist through their insurance.
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Proactive Mental Health Care: Mental health care is important as part of general self-care and should not be dependent on qualifying for a mental health diagnosis. Individuals who want to attend to their mental health, general well-being, and personal growth often seen out a mental health provider in which to engage in this work. Insurance does not cover personal growth or general well-being. Just because insurance does not recognize the value of personal growth, self-care, and personal well-being does not mean you do not have ability to seek care.
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Increased Confidentiality: Insurance companies require clinical information be released to document the necessity of care. At a minimum, this includes a mental health diagnosis and dates of service. At times, insurance companies request clinical information to justify continued coverage of therapy appointments. Evidence of care and sometimes clinical information is seen by a number of insurance employees. If the claim is in network and your coverage allows a specific number of visits, your therapist will have to discuss your case with insurance employees in order to negotiate additional sessions. This means revealing progress updates. Self-pay clients enjoy the peace of mind knowing that the confidential information shared in therapy stays between them and the therapist.
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No need to have a documented diagnosis: In order to use your insurance for services (either through an In-Network provider or through an Out Of Network provider), your insurance requires that services be "medically necessary" in order to qualify for reimbursement. Thus, your provider will need to provide a diagnosis in order for reimbursement from insurance.
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Control: Your insurance company cannot tell you how long you can stay in therapy or what your treatment should entail. Those decisions remain to be made mutually between you and your therapist. You also can also participate in treatment geared towards addressing what the insurance company defines as a non-covered service or not medically necessary. For instance, self-exploration and development of personal insight and growth.
Psychology Graduate Student Rate
We are dedicated to providing counseling and psychotherapy services to Psychology/Counseling/ ABA and other graduate students within the social service field as you complete your degree. We remember the stress of school, practicum, internship, and training. We provide a reduced flat fee session rate so that you can focus on you and not financial strains of treatment. We assist you in working to minimizing issues that may impede professional effectiveness or personal fulfillment.
Reduced Rate
Does your insurance not offer mental health benefits? Are you uninsured? underinsured? Don't let the cost of counseling stop you from mental wellness. We are committed to providing high quality therapy services and believe that all people deserve high quality counseling regardless of income or insurance coverage. We save a select number of spots for clients whom qualify for reduced rates. Contact us to learn more.