Insurance
Can I use my insurance to see a Thrive therapist?
thrive is in-network with (aka we can bill them):
Aetna
thrive is out-of-network with all other insurances.
A couple of Thrive’s therapists accept these insurances, and we will bill them with your permission. Please note we cannot guarantee that our therapists who take these insurances will have openings for new clients.
Please be aware that insurances require that you have a medically necessary diagnosis, or they will not pay for therapy. In order to use your insurance for therapy, you must grant your insurance permission to access your mental health record at any time.
check your out-of-network insurance benefits
We’ve partnered with Mentaya to help clients use their Out-of-Network benefits to save money on therapy. This tool provides an estimate of what your insurance may reimburse.
*Insurances May or May not reimburse for therapy with associate therapists.
*Reimbursements are contingent upon your insurance plan. If you have any questions about what is covered, please contact your insurance.
Please note: WE CANNOT TAKE MEDI-CAL or Medicare.
If i don’t have out-of-network benefits, what are my payment options?
FSA or HSA card - You may use your FSA or HSA card to pay for therapy with any licensed or associate therapist at Thrive. These usually work like a credit card that you can store securely on file.
Pay out-of-pocket - You may choose at any time to pay for your therapy sessions at Thrive without using insurance. Some clients prefer this option because they do not wish for insurers to have access to their diagnosis or medical records.
Request a list of in-network providers with openings from your insurance - Contact those providers.
Why is it so hard to find a therapist who takes my insurance?
Unfortunately, our healthcare system is very broken. Many insurance companies pay therapists less than half of the therapists’ fees. When you factor in the overhead of time and labor required to bill insurance and the expenses of running a business, these low payment rates make it unsustainable for many therapists to take insurance without overworking and burning out. And, there’s already a shortage of mental health therapists!
As sensitive therapists, we have to be especially mindful of our energy, boundaries, and self-care. Because of how insurance currently functions, we’re just not able to provide quality therapy services that are sustainable for us over the long-term while contracting with insurances, sadly.
If I pay for therapy myself, how much does it cost?
Licensed therapist: $180 per 50-55 minute session
Associate therapist: $150 per 50-55 minute session
PsyD Student Intern: $85 per 50-55 minute session
Know your rights
Did you know that California’s Mental Health Parity Act, which was amended in 2020, requires insurances to provide “full coverage” for treating mental health and substance use disorders? This includes arranging coverage for out-of-network services for medically necessary treatment when services are not available in-network.
According to California’s Department of Managed Healthcare, if you can’t get an appointment with a behavioral health care provider (like a therapist) or if your health plan denies behavioral health care treatment, you have rights. They recommend:
“If you are having trouble accessing behavioral health care treatment or services, you should first contact your health plan at the member services phone number on your health plan membership card. Your health plan will review the grievance and ensure you are able to timely access medically necessary care.
If you do not agree with your health plan’s response or your health plan denies treatment, you can file a complaint with your health plan.”
