PeoplePsych Therapy & Counseling Services – Payment & Information
PeoplePsych provides therapy and counseling by phone or through JANE, our secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. Therapy and coaching appointments generally last 55–60 minutes. Extended sessions may be arranged with your therapist.
Fee-for-Service
Self-pay is always an option. Paying directly allows you and your therapist to make treatment decisions without insurance authorization requirements. When you choose self-pay, we do not submit claims or treatment information to your insurer. The usual legal limits to confidentiality still apply.
Our standard fees range from $135 to $195 per session. Please discuss any financial concerns with your therapist before your first appointment.
Payment is due at the time of service. We accept credit and debit cards, as well as HSA and FSA cards for eligible services. A payment card authorization is kept on file.
Psychotherapy is generally an eligible expense for health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts. Depending on your circumstances, your expenses may also qualify for a medical expense tax deduction. Consult your tax professional for guidance.
Insurance
Illinois enacted telehealth parity legislation in 2021, requiring insurance plans subject to Illinois law to cover medically necessary, clinically appropriate teletherapy on the same basis as in-person therapy. Requirements differ in other states. Coverage still depends on your plan’s benefits and your therapist’s network participation.
We verify benefits after receiving your completed intake paperwork and authorization. Verification is not a guarantee of payment. Your deductible, copay, or coinsurance may apply.
Insurance claims must use the client’s name as it appears on the insurance company’s records.
Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO & Blue Choice Plans: All PeoplePsych therapists are in network with most commercial BCBS PPO and Blue Choice plans. We are not in network with BCBS Advocate or EPO plans.
UnitedHealthcare/Optum Plans: Eligible PeoplePsych therapists are in network with most plans that use the UnitedHealthcare/Optum behavioral health network, including Surest, certain Oscar plans, and student health plans. Participation varies by plan and therapist.
Aetna Plans: All PeoplePsych therapists are in network with Aetna through our group contract. We also accept participating plans through Meritain Health, First Health, and Aetna Student Health, as well as certain Aetna Medicare plans. Coverage and network participation vary by plan. We do not accept Original Medicare.
PeoplePsych submits claims directly to the insurer for clients using accepted in-network benefits.
Out-of-Network Benefits
If you have another insurance plan, such as Cigna or Humana, you may have benefits that cover part of the cost of seeing an out-of-network therapist.
Clients using out-of-network benefits pay for sessions directly. Upon request, PeoplePsych provides a superbill—an itemized statement with the information needed to submit a claim—that you can send to your insurer for possible reimbursement. We do not submit out-of-network claims.
Reimbursement depends on your plan’s benefits, deductible, and allowed amount and is not guaranteed.
Plans We Do Not Bill
TRICARE, Community Plans, Medicaid, and Certain Medicare Advantage and HMO Plans: PeoplePsych does not bill plans that require intensive case management or physician referrals, or plans with restricted provider networks that do not include our therapists—even when the insurer also offers plans we accept. Certain Aetna Medicare plans are accepted as described above.
For plans we do not bill, any available self-pay arrangement must be consistent with the plan’s rules and applicable requirements. When self-pay is available, clients pay our standard rate and receive a monthly itemized statement. Clients may submit that statement to their insurer to request reimbursement, but reimbursement is unlikely and should not be expected.
Insurance & Your Privacy
Using insurance requires sharing certain information with your insurer, including a mental health diagnosis. Some plans also request clinical notes or other details about your treatment before authorizing sessions or payment. These requirements can change with little notice.
If your insurer requests additional personal or clinical information, we will notify you before providing it.
Non-Therapy Services
PeoplePsych offers coaching, specialized workshops, divorce mediation, and conflict management services on a self-pay basis. We do not bill insurance for these services.
If you have questions about fees or coverage, please contact us before scheduling your first appointment