Is Couples Therapy Covered by Insurance?

You may be able to pay out of pocket and receive partial reimbursement through your insurance using out-of-network benefits.

This can help reduce the overall cost of therapy, depending on your plan.

To receive reimbursement, you will typically need to:

1. Pay for sessions upfront
2. Submit a Superbill (a detailed receipt) to your insurance company
3. Receive partial reimbursement based on your plan

Some clients choose to use services like Mentaya or Reimbursify to submit claims on their behalf.

A Superbill is an insurance-ready receipt that includes:

• Diagnosis and procedure codes
• Session dates
• Provider information

You will automatically receive a Superbill each month, and you can access it at any time through your client portal.

Your insurance company uses this document to review and process reimbursement claims.

Most insurance plans will only reimburse therapy if one partner has a diagnosable mental health condition, such as:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• PTSD
• OCD

Because couples therapy focuses on the relationship – not a single diagnosed individual – many plans do not cover it unless this requirement is met.

If you’re considering using out-of-network benefits, it’s helpful to ask:

• Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
• What percentage of sessions will be reimbursed?
• Do I need to meet a deductible first?
• Is a mental health diagnosis required for reimbursement?

Getting clear answers upfront can help you avoid surprises.

Many health insurance plans do not cover couples therapy or other relationship-focused services unless one partner has a qualifying mental health diagnosis and treatment is considered medically necessary.

This can be frustrating – especially given how strongly relationships impact mental and physical health.

Lack of coverage does not mean relationship therapy isn’t worthwhile or effective. It simply reflects how insurance systems are structured.

For this reason, I have chosen not to participate as an in-network provider with health insurance companies.

I believe therapy works best when it is guided by your relationship needs – not by diagnosis requirements, treatment limitations, or insurance policies that may restrict the care you receive.

My goal is to provide thoughtful, evidence-based relationship therapy that remains focused on helping you and your partner, rather than meeting the administrative requirements of a profit-focused insurance company.

If you’d like more context on my decision, you can read more here:

If cost is a concern, you still have options:

• Use HSA or FSA funds
• Seek partial reimbursement through out-of-network benefits
• Adjust session frequency over time

We can also discuss what approach makes the most sense for your situation during the consultation.