First Choice Health for Therapy

Finding a therapist can be challenging, especially when you want to use your insurance benefits to pay for therapy.

We’re setting out to make this process a little easier by filling you in on everything you need to know about using First Choice Health to pay for therapy. If you have insurance through First Choice Health, read on to learn all the details.

Does First Choice Health cover therapy?

Yes, therapy is usually covered under First Choice Health Insurance plans.

However, the exact details of your coverage for therapy will depend on your particular First Choice Health plan.

To learn more about your therapy benefits through First Choice Health, you can consult your plan documents or contact the company directly by calling the number on the back of your insurance card.

How much does therapy cost with a First Choice Health plan?

The cost of each therapy session depends mostly on two important things: : A) your specific plan’s benefits, and B) whether or not you’re seeing a therapist who’s in-network with First Choice Health.

About your plan’s benefits

To find out how much you’ll pay per therapy session, you’ll need to know about the following two aspects of your insurance plan:

Deductible: Your deductible is the total amount you need to pay for medical costs each year before your insurance coverage begins. (All your medical costs contribute to this, not just therapy costs.) If you haven’t yet met your deductible for the year, then your insurance usually will not cover therapy sessions, and you will be responsible for the full cost.
Coinsurance: Your coinsurance is a set fee you pay at every therapy session, after your deductible is met. This typically ranges from $15 to $50 per session.

About in-network therapists

An in-network therapist is one who already has an arrangement to work with your insurance company.

If your therapist is in-network, then you will have to pay coinsurance or make payments toward your deductible (see the info on this above). The final cost for an in-network therapist depends on your specific plan.
If your therapist is out-of-network, then you will have to pay the whole fee the therapist charges up front (or the sliding scale rate, if you’ve agreed on this rate with your therapist.) You may be able to get reimbursed for a portion of out-of-network costs by taking advantage of your plan’s out-of-network benefits.

To find out more about your deductible, coinsurance rates, or out-of-network benefits, check your summary of benefits or contact First Choice Health directly by calling the number on the back of your insurance card.

What types of therapy does First Choice Health cover?

First Choice Health insurance plans often cover many different kinds of psychotherapy. In most cases, your plan will include therapy options for both mental health conditions and substance use issues.

Some common types of individual therapy that First Choice Health usually covers include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy. Your therapist might also use a combination of different techniques.

Additionally, you may be covered for family therapy and/or group therapy under your First Choice Health plan, depending on the details of your particular coverage.

To avoid unexpected charges, you should always double-check that your therapist accepts your First Choice Health insurance plan before attending your first session. You can also contact First Choice Health directly to find out more about what kinds of therapy your plan covers, by calling the number on the back of your insurance card.

What kinds of therapy does First Choice Health not cover?

First Choice Health does not usually cover the following kinds of treatment:

Couples counseling (see below for more info and ways to pay for couples counseling)
Life coaching
Career coaching
Therapy sessions occurring outside the therapy office

However, you can always contact the company directly to find out more information if you’re not sure what kinds of therapy are covered under your specific insurance plan.

What conditions does First Choice Health cover?

In most cases, First Choice Health insurance plans cover a wide range of mental health conditions. However, your coverage will vary depending on your specific plan.

To know for sure whether the condition you’re seeking treatment for is covered, it’s usually best to check your summary of benefits or to contact First Choice Health directly by calling the number on the back of your insurance card.

First Choice Health usually covers common mental health conditions including:

It’s also important to know that if you want to use insurance benefits to pay for therapy, your therapist is required to assign you a diagnosis for at least one specific mental health condition. The therapist also has to share that information with your insurance company.

If you don’t want your insurance company (or family members, if you have a shared plan) to have access to this information about your mental health, it may be best to consider out-of-network options instead of using your insurance benefits.

Does First Choice Health cover online therapy?

Yes, First Choice Health does sometimes offer online therapy through a 24/7 telehealth program.

To find out whether your plan includes an online therapy option, it’s best to contact First Choice Health directly to find out more.

Does First Choice Health cover couples counseling?

No, First Choice Health does not cover couples counseling in most cases.

However, even if your insurance plan doesn’t cover couples counseling, you can still explore other ways to afford couples counseling on a budget. Here are five ways to pay for couples counseling if it’s not included in your health insurance plan.

Do I need to see my doctor before visiting a First Choice Health therapist?

No, First Choice Health offers PPO plans, which means that you do not need to get a referral from your primary care doctor before seeing a therapist.

However, your costs might be higher if you see a therapist who is not in-network with First Choice Health. Before your first session, make sure you know whether or not your therapist is in-network and how that will affect your cost per session.