Insurance

Dr. Natalie Horn is in network with Optum + United Healthcare + Aetna.

Dr. Natalie Horn is a participating out-of-network provider with most other major insurance companies.

What are out-of-network benefits?

Out of network doesnt mean your insurance doesn’t cover our sessions! Most insurance providers cover between 50-90% of the cost of out-of-network therapy fees, leaving you with a relatively small per session cost. In fact, this cost is often comparable to the co-pay you would pay to see an in-network therapist. The difference is the way payments are made. When you see an out-of-network therapist, you pay the therapist directly, and you submit therapy invoices to your insurance company, who reimburses you the cost of sessions. When you see an in-network therapist you pay your co-pay to the therapist, and your insurance pays the therapist the remainder of the fee on your behalf.

The benefits of seeing an out-of-network therapist

• In order to receive payment directly from your insurance company, a therapist must assign you a “diagnosis”. Seeing an out-of-network therapist can afford you more privacy, and a clinical diagnosis is less likely to follow you around or prevent you from receiving other types of insurance (e.g., life insurance).

• There are usually restrictions associated with the number of sessions you can have in a calendar year when using an in-network therapist. This puts both you and your therapist at risk of cutting your work short, rushing your work together, or not reaching your fullest potential. Often, healing can be unpredictable. Some people overcome an obstacle in 5 sessions, others need 25, others need 365.

• Because insurance companies don’t always pay therapists a living wage, many of the best therapists with the most expertise opt not to be in-network. This means it is often harder to find an in-network therapist who specializes in your desired focus area, whom you click with, and who has immediate availablity in their practice. If you’re looking for a therapist with a unique skills set, the best therapists are often out of network.

• Sometimes, your co-pay to see an in-network therapist is still quite high. Out of Network benefits can actually make seeing a therapist who is not in-network with your insurance company just as affordable, or even more affordable, than going in-network. This is especially true if you have a high deductible plan and its likely that you would be paying out of pocket for months anyway. A deductible is the amount you have to pay upfront before your insurance coverage kicks in. If you have a $6,000 deductible and you haven’t had any other medical expenses yet in the year, you are responsible for paying up to $6,000 in therapy session fees out-of-pocket before your standard copay applies. This is a case where seeing an in-network therapist and out-of-network therapist can accrue effectively the same cost.

• If you switch jobs, or your job switches insurance providers, you may be vulnerable to needing to switch your therapist, after gaining trust, building a relationship, and reaching new levels of strength and security and not wanting to start over with someone new.

• Out of network therapy opens the door for more personalized, unique, and holistic care. Out-of-network therapists can offer longer or more frequent sessions than insurance might cover. You can also explore creative, holistic solutions. For example, if you are struggling with eating challenges, an out-of-network therapist might go with you to the grocery store or help you cook and eat healthful meals. If qualified, they may also be able to provide life coaching services, nutrition coaching services, and employ other tools and techniques that an in-network therapist would not be able to bill (so they likely wouldn’t be offered).