3 Ways to Use Insurance for Marriage Counseling in Orlando
Going to marriage counseling is an excellent, proactive action to resolve your relationship issues or explore your attachment styles. Unfortunately, insurance coverage does not traditionally include marriage counseling because relationship problems are not an actual mental health diagnosis. But that does not have to stop you from getting help with relationship issues or developing a healthier relationship with your spouse. Here are some creative ways to use your benefits for marriage counseling.
Request that sessions be billed as ‘family sessions’ under one spouse’s coverage
In this situation, you or your spouse uses individual benefits to cover therapy costs, but instead of individual sessions, the provider will bill them as family sessions. The advantage of coding sessions under family counseling is that out-of-pocket expenses are usually lower when you are only responsible for a copay. However, there are numerous drawbacks to this approach, including:
- One spouse must have a mental health diagnosis to qualify for insurance coverage of the visits.
- You have a smaller pool of providers, which is especially challenging when they are fully booked, and you have to wait a long time for services.
- You have less privacy, as insurers often require proof of diagnosis. If you want to keep this evidence out of the hands of anyone who handles your claims, self-pay might be a better choice.
- Your therapy type is often up to your insurer. Carriers usually only cover evidence-based, brief models. Sometimes therapists recommend different approaches or models based on your specific treatment plan.
- Health insurance often covers fewer, shorter therapy sessions. They are usually allowed to dictate the frequency and length of sessions. It can be difficult to get further sessions approved after you run out.
- There is liability potential if you end up in court or file for divorce, as paperwork for the diagnosed individual could be shared in court and used against them in a divorce or custody battle.
Alternate coverage with your spouse using individual plans
This scenario uses health insurance to cover counseling services. Because you are alternating session coverage, it balances the financial burden between spouses. One benefit of this method is that your treatment may be longer because you have both health insurances covering visits. In addition, you will have lower out-of-pocket costs since you are only responsible for copays. But, again, there are some drawbacks to alternating plans to cover marriage counseling in Orlando, like:
- Both spouses will need mental health diagnoses to qualify for insurance coverage.
- The insurance company usually dictates treatment types.
- Health insurance may cover fewer, shorter sessions.
- Your provider options are limited to a small pool of in-network therapists, and some may decline to work with you as a couple.
Use one spouse’s insurance to cover therapy sessions
You can receive marriage therapy sessions under insurance coverage when you or your partner have a mental health diagnosis. For example, if you have been diagnosed with adjustment disorder, anxiety, or depression. You can use your health insurance to cover marriage counseling as part of your treatment plan. One benefit of this strategy is that your out-of-pocket costs are lower after meeting the deductible if you use an in-network provider. In addition, it is usually easier to track coverage when it is all in one place. However, as with the previous situations, there are drawbacks to keep in mind:
- Both spouses will need mental health diagnoses to qualify for insurance coverage.
- The insurance company usually dictates treatment types.
- Health insurance may cover fewer, shorter sessions.
- Your provider options are limited to a small pool of in-network therapists, and some may decline to work with you as a couple.
- There is liability potential if you end up in court or file for divorce, as paperwork for the diagnosed individual could be shared in court and used against them in a divorce or custody battle.
