Out-of-Network Therapy Might Be More Affordable Than You Think: Learn More About Thrizer’s Benefits Tracker
One of the most common questions we hear is simple, and completely valid:
“Do you accept insurance?”
If you’ve ever felt discouraged after hearing that a therapy practice is out-of-network, you’re not alone. Many people assume that out-of-network therapy automatically means therapy is unaffordable or out of reach. In reality, that’s often not true.
Thanks to a new, completely free tool from Thrizer, checking your out-of-network therapy benefits is now easier, faster, and far more transparent. Our new Benefits Checker allows you to see what therapy might actually cost you based on your specific insurance plan.
Let’s break down what this means, why it matters, and how it can help you make an informed decision about your care.
Why We Don’t Accept Insurance Directly
Before diving into the Benefits Checker, it helps to understand why many therapy practices choose not to work directly with insurance companies, and why that choice often benefits clients.
Your privacy matters.
Insurance companies can request therapy notes to determine whether treatment is “medically necessary.” For many people, this feels invasive. Out-of-network therapy allows sessions to remain private, with far fewer third-party eyes involved in your personal story.
Treatment stays in your control.
Insurance plans often limit the number of sessions they’ll cover or require reauthorization. Therapy doesn’t follow a neat timeline, and your care shouldn’t be dictated by someone who has never met you. Out-of-network therapy allows treatment length and pace to be based on your needs, not insurance rules.
Commitment often leads to better outcomes.
When clients intentionally invest in therapy, they’re often more engaged in the process. That commitment, both emotionally and practically can lead to deeper work and more lasting change.
All of that said, using insurance for therapy is always better than no therapy at all. Cost is a real concern, and accessibility matters. That’s exactly where out-of-network benefits and the new Benefits Checker come in.
What are Out-of-Network Benefits?
Many insurance plans include out-of-network mental health benefits, even if they don’t advertise them clearly.
Out-of-network benefits may allow you to receive partial or substantial reimbursement for therapy, apply sessions toward your deductible, and maintain privacy and flexibility while still using insurance.
The challenge is that understanding out-of-network benefits usually requires long phone calls, confusing terminology, and a lot of patience, until now.
Introducing the Thrizer Benefits Checker
We’re excited to offer a new Benefits Checker powered by Thrizer that removes the guesswork from understanding out-of-network therapy costs. This tool allows you to check your benefits automatically and receive a real-time estimate of your out-of-pocket costs before committing to therapy.
When you enter your insurance information, the tool provides an estimate that includes your out-of-network deductible, coinsurance or reimbursement rate, expected insurance reimbursement, and estimated cost per session from your provider.
The calculator is customized specifically to our practice’s rates and services. For group practices, it can also support clinicians with different fees. Your results are private and shown only to you.
Why This Tool Matters
The goal of the Benefits Checker is clarity. Using it allows you to reduce uncertainty around therapy costs, avoid surprise expenses, and decide whether our practice is a good financial fit before reaching out. It also saves time and emotional energy during an already vulnerable process.
From our side, it reduces back-and-forth communication about insurance so we can focus more fully on providing care. Clients who reach out after using the calculator already have a realistic understanding of what therapy might cost, helping everyone start on the same page.
How to Use the Benefits Checker
Using the tool is quick and straightforward. You simply click the Benefits Checker link here, enter your insurance information, and receive an estimated breakdown of your deductible status, reimbursement, and expected out-of-pocket cost per session.
No phone calls. No waiting. No pressure to commit.
Quick Note About Estimates
The Benefits Checker provides insurance benefit estimates, not guaranteed reimbursement amounts. Final reimbursement is determined by your insurance carrier after claims are submitted. Still, the tool offers a realistic and helpful starting point so you can make informed decisions about care.
For the Therapists…
When you use this widget alongside Thrizer's payment platform, you unlock the perfect combination to support and attract private pay clients. Thrizer Pay allows clients to just pay a "co-pay" for their sessions instead of needing to front your full fee and wait weeks for insurance reimbursement. Thrizer fronts the rest of the clinician's fees so you are paid in full upfront and takes care of all the insurance hassles such as submitting & managing the claim and waiting for insurance reimbursement on your client's behalf.
Therapy Can Be More Accessible Than You Think
Many people are surprised to learn that their out-of-network therapy costs are far lower than expected once reimbursements are factored in. For some clients, the difference between in-network and out-of-network therapy is smaller than they imagined. For others, the added benefits like privacy, flexibility, and individualized care make out-of-network therapy a worthwhile and sustainable option.
We believe in making therapy as transparent and accessible as possible. While we don’t accept insurance directly, we do want you to have the information you need to make the best decision for yourself. If cost has been a barrier in the past, we encourage you to try the Benefits Checker. You may find that therapy is more within reach than you thought.
