We know that questions about cost, insurance, and reimbursement can feel overwhelming, especially when you are focused on taking care of your mental health.
This page is designed to clearly explain how payment works at Montgomery County Counseling Center, what out of network care means, and the options available to help you navigate reimbursement with confidence.
Common Questions About Fees and Insurance
Do you accept insurance?
Montgomery County Counseling Center is an out of network practice and does not accept insurance directly. This means payment is due at the time of service.
Many clients who have out of network benefits are still able to receive partial reimbursement for therapy services.
Why are you out of network?
Being out of network allows us to practice with greater flexibility and clinical integrity. This includes spending appropriate time on care coordination, consultation, documentation, and client support without the limitations often imposed by insurance contracts.
It also allows us to focus on thoughtful, individualized treatment rather than meeting insurer-driven requirements that too often don’t align with a client’s needs.
How much does therapy cost?
Sessions range from $190-$225 depending on the type of therapy and the clinician you work with. We also have clinical interns, who are therapists-in-training (and under direct supervision), and support clients at a significantly reduced rate of $20-70 per session. Services provided by clinical interns are not eligible for insurance reimbursement.
According to the Federal No Surprises Act of 2022, you have a right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for how much your medical care will cost.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept major credit cards, checks, and Zelle transfers. Payment is collected at the time of service.
Can I still receive coverage for my therapy sessions with MCCC?
Yes. If your insurance plan includes out of network benefits, you may be able to receive partial reimbursement for therapy services. As part of our process, we provide current clients with a monthly superbill that can be used to submit claims to insurance. Coverage and reimbursement amounts vary by plan.
To help make this process easier, we also offer a step-by-step insurance call guide that outlines the key questions to ask your insurance company about out of network therapy coverage and reimbursement.
This sounds complicated. Is there support available to help with insurance reimbursement?
Yes! If you would prefer not to manage insurance submissions on your own, we often recommend Thrizer, a third-party service that submits out of network claims on your behalf. For a small fee, they handle the paperwork and pay you upfront, then wait to receive reimbursement from your insurance company directly.
Note: We do not use Thrizer ourselves and have no financial relationship with them. We recommend them based on positive client experiences and their ability to simplify a process that can otherwise feel overwhelming.
Affordability and Financial Support
We are committed to supporting equitable access to comprehensive mental health care and recognize that cost can be a meaningful factor for many families, especially when multiple services are involved.
To help make more comprehensive care financially manageable, we offer a Family Care Plan for families receiving three or more concurrent services with our practice. This plan is designed to support families who are engaging in layered or ongoing care across multiple family members.
While we do not offer a sliding scale for individual services at the time of intake, we understand that financial circumstances can change over the course of treatment. For established clients whose situations shift, we are open to thoughtful conversations about possible financial accommodations. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance in these scenarios and email MCCC practice owner Laura Goldstein to discuss options.
Good Faith Estimate (No Surprises Act)
Under the federal No Surprises Act, a Good Faith Estimate is provided to clients who are uninsured or choosing not to use insurance.
A Good Faith Estimate:
- Explains the expected cost of non-emergency services before care begins
- Includes the total anticipated cost based on the services discussed, including related services or items that are reasonably expected
- Is provided in writing before services begin and may also be requested at any time prior to scheduling
- May be used to dispute a bill if the total charges are at least $400 higher than the estimate
- Should be saved for your records
For more information about the No Surprises Act, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059.
Additional Resources for Current Clients
Using Your Superbill for Insurance Reimbursement
For clients who choose to pursue out of network reimbursement, we provide a monthly superbill to support this process. Superbills are automatically sent on the first of each month for the prior month’s services. Current clients may also log into the client portal at any time to download a copy.
A superbill is a detailed receipt that includes the information insurance companies typically request when reviewing claims, such as provider details, dates of service, and billing codes. While reimbursement is determined by your insurance plan, our goal is to make sure you have clear and accurate documentation if you decide to submit a claim.
To help reduce confusion, we’ve created guides for understanding your superbill:
These resources are optional and meant to support you if navigating insurance paperwork feels unfamiliar or overwhelming.
