Precios y seguros médicos
Pricing & Insurance
Precios y seguros médicos
Precios y seguros médicos
Pricing & Insurance
The Average Cost of Therapy & Psychological Testing
After hours of googling, reading websites, and calling around, you’ve finally found a therapist or psychologist you feel is a great fit and will be able to help you.
And then the money/insurance conversation comes up…and you hold your breath.
Will they take your insurance? If not, how much will it cost? Is that a fair rate? What is the average cost of therapy or testing?
You have no idea about the cost of therapy or testing in Miami.
We get it. Money is the last thing you want to think about when you just want to feel better. And yet, we’ve found that it’s an important conversation to have upfront because this decision needs to be a good financial fit, too. You won’t get the results and relief you’re looking for if you can’t afford to see it through. Plus, paying for the cost of therapy or a psychological evaluation shouldn’t cause you more stress or anxiety.
You probably have a bunch of questions about the average cost of therapy and psychological evaluations.
Slow down and take a deep breath. Don’t worry because we’ve got the answers you’re looking for.
Here are some of the most common questions that people ask us about the cost of therapy and psychological testing.
Psychotherapy
How much does therapy with you cost?
The cost of therapy varies depending on the provider’s level of education, licensure (Masters vs Doctoral level), additional certifications, and area(s) of expertise.
For Ariel Lease, MS (Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern):
Initial session (60 minutes) $115
Follow-ups (45-50 minutes) $100
For Dr. Erika Martinez, Dr. Frank Martinez-Mesa & Dr. Joyce Szentpaly:
Initial session (60 minutes) $225
Follow-ups (45-50 minutes) $200
What forms of payment do you accept?
Generally, we accept cash, check, debit, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Health Savings Accounts (HSA), and Flex Savings Accounts (FSA) at this time.
We do not accept Care Credit. {It’s not us; it’s them.} We contacted Care Credit in March 2020 and here’s what their representative said: “Care Credit does not cover the cost of therapy or psychological testing at this time due to liability considerations.”
Due to legal and ethical requirements, clients are not allowed to carry account balances as doing so can muddy the waters of clinical work. This means that full payment is due at the time of service. For therapy, this means the cost of therapy is due at the end of each session.
That’s expensive! Do you offer a sliding scale or reduced fees for counseling?
Not often. Here’s why: our philosophy is that the cost of therapy as an investment in your future, like buying real estate or saving money in a 401K. And just like those forms of investment, counseling can yield a great return on investment, so our therapists charge accordingly. With that said, we realize that not everyone can afford to work with us . We’re happy to refer you to other providers, agencies, and centers that can financially accommodate individuals that need sliding scale or reduced fee services. Here are some of our favorites:
Open Path Collective is a great website where you can find a local therapist that offers therapy at reduced rates.
The Goodman Psychological Services Center (GPSC) is a local teaching clinic accredited by the American Psychological Association that provides low-cost therapy and psychological testing by students training to become therapists and psychologists. All the students are supervised regularly by a licensed professional to ensure a high quality of care. **Fun Fact: All 3 doctors at Envision Wellness trained as practicum students and interns at GPSC. ;-)**
Not sure what a fair cost for therapy is? Check out Healthcare Bluebook and Fair Health Consumer. Type in your zip code and search for ‘psychotherapy 45 minutes’ or CPT code 90834; or ‘psychotherapy 60 minutes’ or CPT code 90837.
Can someone else pay for my therapy?
Sure, but if you’re age 18 or older, we’ll need to get:
- their written authorization to charge their credit card and keep it on file
- A copy of their credit card and driver’s license (front and back)
- their signed acknowledgment of understanding that they will not have written or verbal access to any of the content of your therapy without your written consent
If someone will be paying for the cost of therapy on your behalf, let us know and we’ll send you the paperwork through the client portal.
Do you have a cancellation policy?
Yes. We ask for a minimum of 24 hours notice if you need to cancel a session. A cancellation fee will be charged to the credit card on file if you fail to attend a scheduled session or give less than 24 hours notice of cancellation.
Why are sessions 45 minutes (and not 60 minutes) long?
45-minute sessions are consider the common “clinical hour” in the mental health field. There are two reasons for this:
#1 The remaining 15 minutes are used by the clinician to write session notes, send client’s homework assignments, and complete other documentation related to each case.
#2 Insurances don’t generally pay for or provide out-of-network reimbursement for 60-minute sessions anymore. They only cover 60-min sessions for severe mental health diagnoses (e.g. Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, etc.).
Ultimately, it’s your choice. Please inform your therapist if you’d like a 60-minute session. He or she will be able to give you an in-depth explanation so that you can make an informed choice.
Do you take insurance?
No, we don’t accept insurance. We’re a boutique-style private practice that seeks to offer high quality, individualized attention to each client and are firmly committed to each person’s privacy and confidentiality. We can’t meet those goals being in-network with insurance companies. {Plus, we went into this field to help people, NOT help insurance companies and their investors make money.}
If you’d like to use your insurance coverage, you may still be able to work with one of our providers if your insurance plan has out-of-network (OON) benefits. Head over to the last 2 FAQs below or call us and we’ll be happy to help answer your questions.
Omg, but I want to work with you! Why don’t you take insurance?!
Lol, that’s a short question with a long answer! (Read about it here.) In short, Dr. Maritnez initially accepted insurance when she started Envision Wellness. But as her practice grew, she spent increasing hours on the phone trying to get payment from the insurance companies, had to justify her treatment decisions to insurance representatives who weren’t clinical professionals, and disclose clients’ confidential information to be reimbursed for her work. It was a mess and it didn’t sit well with her. She realized working for insurance companies restricted her ability to provide the best quality of care to people.
It was a difficult decision, but she ultimately chose people’s well being.
Having worked in managed-care (insurance) driven practices before, Dr. Szentpaly and Dr. Martinez-Mesa also share Dr. Martinez’s belief that treatment decisions and confidentiality should remain between the therapist and client, and have continued to follow a private pay model of service.
OK, but I’ve heard great things about you guys. I still want to work with YOU. Is there another way???
Absolutely! Envision Wellness is an out-of-network (OON) mental health provider. It means that we don’t bill insurance companies directly, but we can give you the medical receipt (superbill) to submit to your insurance company for them to reimburse you. Your insurance plan may have OON coverage. If it does, you may be able to work with our mental health experts using it. Trust us – it’s super easy! Here’s how it works:
You pay us directly at the time of each session. On the first of the month, you’ll find your superbill for the previous month’s sessions in your online client portal. (For example, on May 1st, you’ll see your superbill for all of April’s sessions.) This superbill is an itemized medical receipt that has all the medical codes and information your insurance company needs to process your reimbursement.
Then, you download it and submit it (e-mail, fax, electronically submit, or snail mail) to your insurance company if you decide to seek reimbursement through your insurance company’s out-of-network coverage. Your insurance company will process the superbill and will:
- apply the amount you’ve paid to chip away at your deductible, or
- reimburse you a percentage if you’ve already met the deductible
Just to be clear, Envision Wellness makes no guarantees that you’ll receive reimbursement (or how much reimbursement) from your insurance company.
What if I don’t know if my insurance plan has out-of-network coverage?
You have 2 options.
#1 You can schedule a free 15-minute Clarity Consult by phone with us, and we’ll do it for you. Make sure you have your insurance card available during your consult call. (Unless, you have UnitedHealthcare. See option #2. Sorry, it’s them, not us. :/ )
#2 You can DIY. Call the customer service phone number on the back of your insurance card so you can ask questions about your coverage and make an informed decision before getting started with counseling. Here are some helpful questions to ask the representative:
- Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
- If they say yes, ask: What is my out-of-network deductible?
- Then ask: Is this deductible combined with my in-network deductible, or is it separate?
- Then ask: How much of this deductible has been met to date?
- Then ask: Are out-of-network services by a licensed clinical psychologist covered?
- If I have out-of-network benefits, do I have to select a mental health provider from a list or can I choose any provider?
- Then ask: What percentage gets reimbursed for a therapy session once my deductible has been met? (This is usually a percentage.)
- What is my out-of-pocket maximum? How much of it has been met to date?
- Is pre-approval required under any circumstances before obtaining out-of-network outpatient mental health services to be reimbursed?
- Will I be reimbursed the % on the full amount I paid (aka reasonable and customary fee) or only a portion of the amount (aka allowable amount)?
- For psychotherapy, ask: Do you cover procedural codes 90834 (45-min session) and/or 90837 (60-min session)?
- For psychotherapy, ask: Is online therapy by a licensed psychologist covered?
- What is the process for seeking reimbursement for out-of-network claims? Do I have to fill out a special form? Do I mail, email, fax, or submit my documents through an online portal?
- How long do I have to submit out-of-network claims?
Psychological Testing
How much does a psychological evaluation cost?
Psychological Assessments
$360 Gifted or IQ/Intelligence Testing (Basic)*
$500 Gifted or IQ/Intelligence Testing (Comprehensive)*
$500 College/Career Assessment (High School & College/Undergrad students)*
$700 Career Assessment (Adults changing careers)*
$1500 AD/HD Assessment**
For those seeking to determine diagnosis for medication or workplace accommodation. This evaluation is not sufficient to receive accommodations in educational settings or on national and professional licensure standardized tests.
$500 Pre-Surgical or Bariatric Psychological Evaluation*
$1050 Immigration Cognitive Assessment (N-648; for Citizenship Exam Waiver)**
$850 for Cognitive Re-Testing (1 year later)
$1250 Immigration Assessment (Asylum & Hardship)**
$1500 Immigration Assessment (T&U Visas & VAWA)**
$750 Pre-Adoption – 1 adult*
$1500 Pre-Adoption – 2 adults**
$2800 Neuropsychoeducational**
for AD/HD, Learning Disorders, emotional and behavioral functioning, & accommodations on national and professional licensure standardized tests
$1500 Psychodiagnostic Assessment**
$2200 Neuropsychological Assessment**
The cost of neuropsychological evaluations varies based on the complexity of the case, the time to administer and number of instruments used, and costs of instrument administration. Click here to set up a free consult during which we’ll be able to give you an estimate based on your needs.
Scheduling Fees
* $150 Scheduling Fee required (non-refundable)
** $250 Scheduling Fee required (non-refundable)
Rush Fees
+$500 less than 15 business days, but more than 10 business days
+$1000 less than 10 business days, but more than 5 business days
+$1500 less than 5 business days, but more than 1 business day
+$2000 24 business hours or less
That’s expensive! Do you offer a sliding scale or reduced fees for testing?
No, we don’t. Here’s why: psychological testing and assessment is time-consuming and requires significant specialized training, so our psychologists charge accordingly. With that said, we realize that not everyone can afford to work with us . We’re happy to refer you to other providers, agencies, and centers that can financially accommodate individuals that need sliding scale or reduced fee services. Here are some of our favorites:
Open Path Collective is a great website where you can find a local psychologist that offers reduced rates.
The Goodman Psychological Services Center (GPSC) is a local teaching clinic accredited by the American Psychological Association that provides low-cost psychological testing by students training to become therapists and psychologists. All the students are supervised regularly by a licensed professional to ensure a high quality of care. **Fun Fact: All 3 doctors at Envision Wellness trained as practicum students and interns at GPSC. ;-)**
Not sure what a fair cost for testing is? Check out Healthcare Bluebook and Fair Health Consumer. Type in your zip code and search for ‘psychological testing’ or CPT code 96130; or ‘neuropsychological testing’ or CPT code 96132.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Generally, we accept cash, check, debit, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Health Savings Accounts (HSA), and Flex Savings Accounts (FSA) at this time.
Payment for certain forms of psychological testing must be made in cash.
We do not accept Care Credit. {It’s not us; it’s them.} We contacted Care Credit in March 2020 and here’s what their representative said: “Care Credit does not cover mental health services like psychotherapy or psychological testing at this time due to liability considerations.”
Due to legal and ethical requirements, clients are not allowed to carry account balances as doing so can muddy the waters of clinical work. This means that full payment is due at the time of service. For testing, this means payment is due when test administration concludes (and before the final feedback session).
Can someone else pay for my evaluation?
Sure, but if you’re age 18 or older, we’ll need to get:
- their written authorization to charge their credit card and keep it on file
- A copy of their credit card and driver’s license (front and back)
- their signed acknowledgment of understanding that they will not have written or verbal access to any of the content of your evaluation without your written consent
If someone will be paying on your behalf, let us know and we’ll send you the paperwork through the client portal.
Do you have a cancellation policy?
Yes. We ask for a minimum of 24 hours notice if you need to cancel a session. A cancellation fee will be charged to the credit card on file if you fail to attend a scheduled session or give less than 24 hours notice of cancellation.
Do you take insurance?
No, we don’t accept insurance. We’re a boutique-style private practice that seeks to offer high quality, individualized attention to each client and are firmly committed to each person’s privacy and confidentiality. We can’t meet those goals being in-network with insurance companies. {Plus, we went into this field to help people, NOT help insurance companies and their investors make money.}
Omg, but I want to work with you! Why don’t you take insurance?!
Lol, that’s a short question with a long answer! (Read about it here.) In short, Dr. Maritnez initially accepted insurance when she started Envision Wellness. But as her practice grew, she spent increasing hours on the phone trying to get payment from the insurance companies, had to justify her treatment decisions to insurance representatives who weren’t clinical professionals, and disclose clients’ confidential information to be reimbursed for her work. It was a mess and it didn’t sit well with her. She realized working for insurance companies restricted her ability to provide the best quality of care to people.
It was a difficult decision, but she ultimately chose people’s well being.
Having worked in managed-care (insurance) driven practices before, Dr. Szentpaly and Dr. Martinez-Mesa also share Dr. Martinez’s belief that treatment decisions and confidentiality should remain between the therapist and client, and have continued to follow a private pay model of service.
OK, but I’ve heard great things about you guys. I still want to work with YOU. Is there another way???
Absolutely! Envision Wellness is an out-of-network (OON) mental health provider. It means that we don’t bill insurance companies directly, but we can give you the medical receipt (superbill) to submit to your insurance company for them to reimburse you. Your insurance plan may have OON coverage. If it does, you may be able to work with our mental health experts using it. Trust us – it’s super easy! Here’s how it works:
You pay us directly at the time of each session. On the first of the month, you’ll find your superbill for the previous month’s sessions in your online client portal. (For example, on May 1st, you’ll see your superbill for all of April’s sessions.) This superbill is an itemized medical receipt that has all the medical codes and information your insurance company needs to process your reimbursement.
Then, you download it and submit it (e-mail, fax, electronically submit, or snail mail) to your insurance company if you decide to seek reimbursement through your insurance company’s out-of-network coverage. Your insurance company will process the superbill and will:
- apply the amount you’ve paid to chip away at your deductible, or
- reimburse you a percentage if you’ve already met the deductible
Just to be clear, Envision Wellness makes no guarantees that you’ll receive reimbursement (or how much reimbursement) from your insurance company.
What if I don’t know if my insurance plan has out-of-network coverage?
You have 2 options.
#1 You can schedule a free 15-minute Clarity Consult by phone with us, and we’ll do it for you. Make sure you have your insurance card available during your consult call. (Unless, you have UnitedHealthcare. See option #2. Sorry, it’s them, not us. :/ )
#2 You can DIY. Call the customer service phone number on the back of your insurance card so you can ask questions about your coverage and make an informed decision before getting started with counseling. Here are some helpful questions to ask the representative:
- Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
- If they say yes, ask: What is my out-of-network deductible?
- Then ask: Is this deductible combined with my in-network deductible, or is it separate?
- Then ask: How much of this deductible has been met to date?
- Then ask: Is out-of-network (neuro)psychological testing by a licensed clinical psychologist covered?
- If I have out-of-network benefits, do I have to select a mental health provider from a list or can I choose any provider?
- Then ask: What percentage gets reimbursed for psychological testing once my deductible has been met? (This is usually a percentage.)
- What is my out-of-pocket maximum? How much of it has been met to date?
- Is any pre-approval required under any circumstances before obtaining out-of-network (neuro)psychological testing to be reimbursed?
- Will I be reimbursed the % on the full amount I paid (aka reasonable and customary fee) or only a portion of the amount (aka allowable amount)?
- For psychological testing, ask: Do you cover procedural codes 96130 and/or 96132 (neuropsychological testing)? (If the rep says yes, ask, “What is the reasonable and customary fee for 96130 (or 96132) in my area?”)
- What is the process for seeking reimbursement for out-of-network claims? Do I have to fill out a special form? Do I mail, email, fax, or submit my documents through an online portal?
- How long do I have to submit out-of-network claims?
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