Does Insurance Cover Therapy in Florida? Comprehensive Healthcare for Floridians
10 Minutes
Team Curative
Apr 2, 2024
When it comes to health, it isn't always sunny in the Sunshine State. Last year, Florida ranked 46th in the nation for access to mental healthcare. Some of the most significant barriers are social stigma, high out-of-pocket costs, and a lack of comprehensive healthcare offered by employers.
Stressors in the workplace can contribute to a range of physical illnesses like hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. Poor mental health can also lead to burnout, negatively affecting overall well-being. However, many don’t feel comfortable sharing their mental health concerns with workplace leaders. That’s why your employer-sponsored health insurance should cover therapy — so you always have support and someone to talk to.
If you have insurance through your employer and are interested in seeking therapy, educating yourself is a crucial first step. Here is what you need to know about general therapy and comprehensive health insurance Florida employers offer.
How much does therapy cost out-of-pocket in Florida?
The cost of therapy varies widely depending on several factors, including the type of insurance coverage you have, the specific treatment program, and any out-of-pocket expenses you may be responsible for. While paying out-of-pocket for therapy sessions is possible, having comprehensive employer-sponsored health insurance can help mitigate or completely erase out-of-pocket costs.
Individual therapy sessions with a licensed therapist or psychologist average between $100 to $200 per hour, depending on many factors, including the provider’s qualifications, experience, and where they practice. Treatment with psychiatrists typically ranges from $150 to $300 per hour.
Inpatient psychiatric treatment averages between $1,000 to $2,000 per day or more, depending on the location and level of care needed, while outpatient programs average between $100 to $500 per day and up.
When should I seek therapy?
Seeking therapy is a personal decision, and specific indicators may suggest that you need help. If you notice that your mental health or thoughts are negatively affecting relationships, work, or school, or are leading to unhealthy coping behaviors, you should consider therapy.
“Therapy is also helpful to those who feel persistently hopeless, distressed around others, frozen with apathy or loss of interest in life in general, or have intrusive or anxious thoughts,” says Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist and director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. in New York City. “Therapy may help reduce the effects of the above feelings or emotions. It’s important to consider going to therapy if you feel controlled by your symptoms or if your emotions could cause harm to yourself or others.”
Therapy is linked with positive changes in the brain and body, fewer sick days, less disability, fewer medical problems, and increased work satisfaction. Most people who receive therapy experience symptom relief and can function better in their day-to-day lives – approximately 75% of people who enter therapy report experiencing some benefit from it.
What are the different types of mental health providers?
Mental healthcare professionals can help you achieve your recovery goals. Here are a few different types of providers:
Counselors often specialize in a specific area, such as marriage, addiction, grief, or abuse. Counseling tends to be shorter-term, and goal-oriented, and it addresses concrete, specific life challenges.
Therapist is a broad term for a clinician who treats mental health concerns. Therapy involves an advanced degree, training, and licensure.
Psychologists have a doctoral degree in clinical psychology or another specialty such as counseling or education. They are trained to evaluate a person’s mental health using clinical interviews, psychological evaluations, and testing. They can make diagnoses and provide individual and group therapy.
Psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors who have completed psychiatric training. They can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and monitor medications, and provide therapy. Some have specialized training in child and adolescent mental health, substance use disorders, or geriatric psychiatry.
Which type of provider should I choose?
Think about these issues when choosing a mental health provider:
Your mental health concern or condition. Most mental health providers treat a range of conditions, but one with a specialized focus may best meet your needs. In general, if your symptoms are more severe, a provider with more expertise and training may be needed.
Types of treatment. Some mental health providers are not licensed to prescribe medicines, so you may need to see more than one mental health provider. For example, you may need to see a psychiatrist to manage your medicines and a psychologist for counseling.
Health insurance coverage. Your insurance policy may list specific mental health providers, treatments, or medications that are covered. Ensure you are enrolled in an insurance program that prioritizes comprehensive healthcare.
How are individual therapy and group therapy different?
The primary difference between group and individual therapy is the setting. Group therapy is conducted with peers who are going through similar experiences while individual therapy is conducted in a one-on-one setting. Some other differences include:
Support and perspective. In a group setting, you get exposure to others’ viewpoints and experiences you can learn from. Additionally, the group therapy environment provides a built-in support network.
One-on-one time. Individual therapy allows people to discuss their emotions, feelings, and experiences in a private setting, with the sole focus being the patient’s specific needs.
Timing. Scheduling an appointment for individual therapy can be more flexible than getting to a group therapy session. Group therapy tends to be on a specific day and time, but the time and day of group therapy can make it easy to pre-plan with work or other plans.
Topics. Group therapy tends to be focused on a single topic or general issue shared by participants, which can be beneficial for addressing specific concerns. Individual therapy allows for a more thorough exploration of individual thoughts, feelings, and circumstances.
Affordability, comfort level with discussing problems in front of other individuals, and the type of intervention being used are all important factors to consider when deciding between group or individual therapy. Neither form of therapy is “better” than the other, but both represent different approaches to achieving the same goal. If you want to explore both kinds of therapy, ensure your insurance provider facilitates that aspect of comprehensive healthcare and mental wellness.
What is the value of in-person therapy versus virtual or tele-therapy?
Don’t want to or can’t try traditional therapy? Try telehealth. Telehealth use is on the rise, and for good reason — it allows access to comprehensive healthcare services at the patient’s convenience and offers an additional layer of privacy.
Maybe your job has you catering to the demands of the public or is a corporate position with daunting expectations. Maybe work is great, but you are struggling with overwhelming challenges in your personal life. Telehealth allows you to speak to a therapist from anywhere, at any time. You can pick up the phone or log in to your computer during a break in your work schedule and get the help and support you need to continue with your day. If this sounds good to you, tele-therapy may be right for you.
What are your options for coverage?
Forty percent of Florida’s population receives health insurance coverage through their employer, which puts your employer in a unique opportunity to offer you access to comprehensive healthcare via insurance options. Your employers can help close the gap between your access to mental health services and achieving mental and physical well-being.
Florida’s evolving job market means employers must keep up with the state’s insurance regulations. Florida employers with 50 or more full-time employees are required to offer affordable health insurance options under the Affordable Care Act. If your employer’s health plan offerings are not inclusive of therapy, you can advocate for yourself by asking your HR department to consider adopting a company-wide comprehensive health plan.
What is the best comprehensive healthcare insurance in Florida?
At Curative, our approach to insurance prioritizes providing patients access to healthcare. With Curative, patients can focus on healthcare, not cost. Our health plan delivers better health through affordability, engagement, and simplicity.
Curative offers the no-hassle health insurance-backed therapy you need. Access to $0 therapy: Finding a therapist can be a challenge. We’ll help you find in-network therapy at zero cost to you. Whether it’s a therapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist, we’ll walk you through the steps to find the best fit for you. No-hassle meds: Members have access to rapid medication delivery through the Curative Pharmacy. We can also help you find an in-network pharmacy along with guidance on transferring and filling prescriptions. We’ll help ensure your medication is working properly and can offer guidance if you have questions about side effects or usage. Support on your time: Our care team will help you stay on track with your care through one-on-one check-ins. We work around your schedule and can provide support as frequently, or as seldom, as needed. Virtual therapy with Teladoc: Florida members can tap into remote therapy through our partnership with Teladoc. It's hassle-free to schedule appointments and get connected to a therapist within a week. Emergencies: If you find yourself in a critical situation or experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988 for immediate support.
For more information on health insurance, Florida comprehensive care resources, and how Curative can help you cultivate better employee mental health in your organization, visit our members page.
*Patients experiencing a medical emergency or who have concerns about their medical situation should call 911 (or the local emergency number) immediately.
To see all disclaimers, please view them here.
References
Mental Health America (2023). Access to Care Ranking 2023. https://mhanational.org/issues/2023/mental-health-america-access-care-data.
Delgado, C., et al. (2021). International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. Mental health nurses' psychological well-being, mental distress, and workplace resilience: A cross-sectional survey. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12874.
Herman, A. (2022, August). Studies show Florida hospital bills rank among the highest in the nation. Spectrum News 13. https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2022/08/12/for-patients-in-florida--hospital-bills-rank-among-the-highest-in-the-nation.
The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center (2024) How Much Does Mental Health Therapy Treatment Cost in Florida? https://sylviabrafman.com/insurance/cost/#:~:text=How%20Much%20Does%20Mental%20Health%20Treatment%20Cost%20in%20Florida%3F,experience%2C%20and%20where%20they%20practice..
American Psychological Association (2023, December). Understanding psychotherapy and how it works. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/understanding.
Lauretta, A. (2023, May). How Much Does Therapy Cost In 2024? Forbes Health. https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/how-much-does-therapy-cost/.
Fagan, A. (2023, April). Psychologist vs Therapist vs Counselor: What Are the Differences? Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/therapy/psychologist-vs-therapist-vs-counselor#:~:text=Counseling%20tends%20to%20be%20shorter%20term%2C%20goal%2Doriented%2C%20and,addiction%2C%20grief%2C%20or%20abuse..
Editorial Staff (2023, October). Group Therapy vs. Individual Therapy. American Addiction Centers Oxford Treatment Center. https://oxfordtreatment.com/addiction-treatment/therapy/individual-vs-group/.
Jin, M. (2020, August). Telemedicine: Current Impact on the Future. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7502422/.
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