What Therapy Costs in Utah, and How to Find Out Your Number
There is no single price for therapy. What you pay depends on your insurance, your plan's design and how you choose to pay. This guide shows you how to work out your own cost before the first session.
Key takeaways
- With in-network insurance, your cost per session is your copay or coinsurance, after any deductible.
- Out of network, you pay the session fee and may be reimbursed a percentage by your plan.
- Self-pay clients get a written Good Faith Estimate of charges before care starts. It is required by federal law.
- One phone call to your insurer and one to the practice gives you your exact number.
The four ways people pay for therapy
| How you pay | What you owe per session | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| In-network insurance | Nothing beyond your copay or coinsurance once the deductible is met. Before that, the plan's contracted rate. | "Have I met my deductible? What is my copay or coinsurance for outpatient mental health?" |
| Out-of-network insurance | The practice's session fee up front. Your plan may reimburse a percentage after you submit a superbill. | "Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits, and what percentage is reimbursed?" |
| Self-pay | The practice's session fee. No insurance involved, no diagnosis sent to an insurer. | "What is the session fee, and can I have a Good Faith Estimate?" |
| HSA or FSA | Same as self-pay or your copay, paid from pre-tax funds. | "Do you accept HSA or FSA cards?" |
In network: how the math works
When a therapist is in network with your plan, the insurer has set a contracted rate for each type of session. You never pay more than that rate. Your share depends on your plan design:
- Before the deductible is met, you usually pay the full contracted rate until your yearly deductible is satisfied. Some plans exempt mental health visits from the deductible; ask.
- After the deductible, you pay a copay (a fixed amount) or coinsurance (a percentage), and the plan pays the rest.
- After your out-of-pocket maximum, the plan pays everything for the rest of the plan year.
Agile Counseling lists the plans it is in network with on the insurance page.
Out of network: superbills and reimbursement
If your therapist is not in your plan's network, you pay the session fee directly. If your plan includes out-of-network benefits, the practice gives you a superbill, an itemized receipt with the service and diagnosis codes, and you submit it to the plan. Reimbursement is a percentage of what the plan considers a reasonable charge, after a separate out-of-network deductible. Ask your insurer for both numbers before you rely on them.
Self-pay and the Good Faith Estimate
Paying privately means no insurer is involved. Some people choose it for privacy, because their plan has no mental health benefit, or because the therapist they want is out of network.
Under the federal No Surprises Act, a provider must give an uninsured or self-pay client a written Good Faith Estimate of expected charges before scheduled care. The estimate lists the services expected, their cost and the total. If the final bill is substantially higher than the estimate, you have the right to dispute it. The rules are published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at cms.gov/nosurprises.
Longer sessions and EMDR intensives
A standard therapy session runs about 50 to 60 minutes. Some work, EMDR in particular, benefits from a longer block. Agile Counseling offers a 90-minute EMDR intensive. Whether and how a plan covers time beyond a standard session varies, so the practice talks through billing for intensives before you book. The fee is given by phone.
How to get your exact number
- Call your insurer. Ask the four questions in the table above and note the answers.
- Call the practice at (801) 597-9558 with your member ID. Ask them to confirm network status and tell you the session fee for self-pay.
- If you are self-pay, ask for the Good Faith Estimate in writing.
Want help working it out?
Call with your insurance card in hand. It takes a few minutes and you will know what a session costs before you book one.
Contact Agile CounselingFrequently asked questions
How much does therapy cost with insurance in Utah?
With an in-network therapist, your cost per session is your plan's copay or coinsurance for outpatient mental health once your deductible is met. Your insurer can tell you the amount in one call. Before the deductible is met you usually pay the plan's contracted rate.
Does Agile Counseling publish its session fee?
No. Fees for self-pay sessions and the 90-minute EMDR intensive are given by phone at (801) 597-9558, and self-pay clients receive a written Good Faith Estimate before care begins.
What is a Good Faith Estimate?
A written estimate of expected charges that providers must give uninsured and self-pay clients before scheduled care under the federal No Surprises Act. It lists the expected services, their cost and the total.
Can I use my HSA or FSA to pay for therapy?
Yes. Therapy with a licensed mental health professional is a qualified medical expense, so HSA and FSA funds can cover copays, coinsurance or self-pay fees.
Is therapy cheaper by telehealth?
Not usually. Insurers generally pay the same contracted rate for a telehealth session as an office visit, and self-pay fees are typically the same. The saving is in travel time, not the session fee.