You've decided you're ready for therapy.
Then a second thought shows up right behind the first one: Can I actually afford this?
That one question can keep you stuck for months. So let's answer it.
With BCBS PPO, what you pay for therapy depends on your plan's benefits. Walk With Me Counseling Center accepts BCBS PPO for online therapy for adults in Chicago and throughout Illinois. We check your coverage before your first session and explain your estimated cost.
In this article:
What Determines Your BCBS PPO Therapy Cost?
Does Your BCBS PPO Deductible Apply to Therapy?
Do You Have a Different Kind of BCBS Coverage?
How to Check Your BCBS PPO Therapy Benefits
FAQs
What Determines Your BCBS PPO Therapy Cost?
Two people with BCBS PPO can sit in the same session and owe completely different amounts. It's not random. It comes down to a few words on your plan.
| Word | What it means | What it means for therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Deductible | The amount you pay on your own each year before your insurance starts to help | If your deductible counts for therapy and you haven't paid it yet, you may pay the full insurance rate for each session until you do |
| Copay | A set amount you pay each visit | Your plan picks the amount. It can be different for different kinds of visits |
| Coinsurance | A percent of the cost you pay after your deductible | You pay that percent of the insurance rate for each session |
| Out-of-pocket max | The most you'll pay in one year for covered care | Once you hit it, your plan usually pays for covered care for the rest of the year |
When we say "insurance rate," we mean the price BCBS and our practice agreed on for a session. It's not our regular fee.
Your plan might use one of these or a mix. That's why the same insurance card can mean different costs for different people.
Here's some good news. A federal law says most plans can't make therapy cost more than regular medical care. That means no extra-high copays or tighter visit limits just because it's mental health. Some small employer plans follow different rules, so it's still smart to check.
Does Your BCBS PPO Deductible Apply to Therapy?
This is the part that surprises people.
Some plans make you pay your deductible before they help with therapy. Some don't.
If yours does, and you haven't paid it yet this year, you may pay the full insurance rate for each session until you reach it. That's true at any therapist who takes your insurance. It's just how deductibles work.
Once you reach it, your cost usually drops.
Knowing this ahead of time is the difference between a surprise and a plan. That's exactly why we check before your first session.
Do You Have a Different Kind of BCBS Coverage?
BCBS offers more than one type of plan in Illinois, and we accept more than one.
BCBS Medicare: Your cost follows your Medicare plan's mental health benefits. We'll check those for you.
Blue Cross Community Health Plans (Illinois Medicaid): Your cost works differently. See how it works.
Not sure which plan you have? Look at your insurance card. We'll double-check it for you.
Have a different insurance plan? See the insurance plans we accept.
How to Check Your BCBS PPO Therapy Benefits
You don't have to figure this out on your own. Here's how it works:
Request your free 15-minute consultation. No pressure. No commitment.
Fill out our insurance form. Grab your insurance card first.
We check your benefits for you. This usually takes 24 hours, Monday through Friday. Then we tell you what we expect you'll pay.
You decide what's right for you. Your final cost is set after BCBS processes each claim.
FAQs
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The full session fee is $155 for 55 minutes. With BCBS PPO in-network coverage, your actual cost is typically $0 to $25 once your benefits are verified.
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Walk With Me Counseling Center is also in-network with BCBS Medicare and Blue Cross Community Health Plans, which is Illinois Medicaid. Your specific BCBS product determines what you'll pay and how coverage works.
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We'll find out when we check your benefits. If your plan doesn't cover sessions with us, we'll tell you before your first session so you can decide what to do next.
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Openings change. Request a free consultation, and we'll tell you what's available right now.
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Yes. You can use an HSA or FSA card for copays, coinsurance, and deductible costs. We also take major credit cards.
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Yes, along with all major credit cards.
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Because your plans may not be the same, even if you both have BCBS PPO. Employers pick different plan designs. So your copay or deductible might not match a friend's. Checking your own benefits is the best way to know.
Ready to Find Out What Your Plan Covers?
Let me be clear: questions about cost are normal. They are not a reason to stay stuck.
You've already done the hard part by deciding you're ready. Let us handle the insurance part. Request your free consultation, and we'll review your BCBS PPO coverage and explain it in plain terms.
If you're in crisis or need help right now, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or go to your nearest emergency room. Walk With Me Counseling Center provides ongoing therapy, not emergency or crisis services.
