Insurance & costs

How to Use Your Insurance for Therapy in Colorado (A Plain-English Guide)

By Joel Laos, MA, LPCC · Canyons Counseling · Castle Pines, Colorado

For a lot of people, the thing standing between them and counseling isn't willingness — it's the money question. Is this covered? What will it actually cost me? Why is insurance so confusing?

Here's the plain-English version.

Yes, insurance usually covers therapy

Most health plans in Colorado cover outpatient mental health care the same way they cover medical care — it's required by federal parity law. That typically means you pay a copay (often somewhere between $0 and $50 per session) or you pay toward your deductible until it's met. Coverage varies plan to plan, but "my insurance doesn't cover therapy" is much rarer than people assume.

What I accept

I'm in-network with most major plans, including Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, and Colorado Medicaid (Colorado Access and CCHA). In-network means you pay only your plan's copay or deductible amount — the rest is between me and your insurer.

If you have a plan I'm not in-network with — Kaiser, for example — you may still have out-of-network benefits. In that case I can provide a superbill, which is an itemized receipt you submit to your insurer for partial reimbursement. Many PPO plans reimburse a meaningful portion of the session fee this way.

And private pay is always welcome. Some people prefer it for simplicity or privacy, since paying directly means no diagnosis is reported to an insurance company.

Three questions to ask your insurance company

If you want to know your exact cost before we talk, call the member services number on your insurance card and ask:

1. "Do I have outpatient mental health coverage?"
2. "What is my copay or coinsurance for outpatient therapy?"
3. "Do I have a deductible that applies, and how much of it have I met?"

Ten minutes on the phone, and you'll know your number.

Or just ask me

Honestly? The easiest path is to skip the phone tree and bring the question to your free consult. Walking people through their coverage is part of what I do — you'll know exactly what therapy will cost before you commit to anything.

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Joel Laos, MA, LPCC is a counselor in Castle Pines, Colorado, working with individuals, couples, and families in person and via telehealth across Colorado. This article is general information, not a guarantee of coverage — benefits vary by plan. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) now.