One of the most common reasons people delay starting therapy isn’t reluctance — it’s confusion about insurance. The terminology alone is enough to stop someone before they begin. Copay, deductible, coinsurance, in-network, superbill: it sounds like a different language. This post breaks it down practically, specifically for adults in Texas using Aetna or Cigna who are looking at online therapy.
What In-Network Actually Means
When a therapist is in-network with your insurance plan, they have a contracted rate with that insurer. You pay a copay or a percentage (coinsurance) per session, and the insurance company covers the rest — up to your annual out-of-pocket maximum. The contracted rate is typically lower than the therapist’s standard rate, which is why in-network is usually the most affordable option by a significant margin.
Xola Counseling is in-network with Aetna, Cigna, Quest Behavioral Health, Carelon Behavioral Health, and United Healthcare. If your insurance is through one of those plans, therapy sessions may cost you only a copay, often somewhere in the $20 to $50 range depending on your specific plan design.
How to Actually Check Your Mental Health Benefits
Before your first appointment, call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask these specific questions. Do I have outpatient mental health benefits? Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, virtually all major plans are required to cover mental health on equal terms with physical health — but verifying your specific coverage is worth doing. What is my copay or coinsurance for outpatient therapy with an in-network provider? Do I have a deductible, and how much of it has been applied this year? Is telehealth therapy covered under my plan? Texas state law expanded telehealth parity requirements in 2021, and most private plans in Texas now cover telehealth at the same rate as in-person — but confirm this with your specific plan. Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor before starting mental health services? PPO plans typically don’t require this; some HMO plans do.
What to Know About Cigna Specifically
Most Cigna PPO plans in Texas cover outpatient therapy at an in-network copay ranging from $30 to $60 per session. Cigna’s telehealth coverage for behavioral health has been strong since 2020 and has remained so. To verify your benefits directly: log into myCigna.com and navigate to Coverage then Behavioral Health, or call 1-800-CIGNA24.
What to Know About Aetna Specifically
Aetna plans in Texas vary considerably between employer-sponsored plans and ACA marketplace plans. In-network behavioral health copays typically range from $20 to $50 per session. Aetna covers telehealth therapy under most of its current plans. Log into your member portal at aetna.com and look under the Find a Doctor section, specifically the Behavioral Health tab, to verify in-network status and coverage before scheduling.
The Deductible Factor
If you have a deductible, you pay the full contracted session rate until that deductible is met, after which your copay or coinsurance structure kicks in. Early in a calendar year, if you haven’t met much of your deductible, each session may cost more than it will later. Claims submitted through the superbill process for out-of-network clients do apply to your deductible — so it’s still worth submitting even when reimbursement is partial.
If Your Plan Isn’t Listed
If your insurance isn’t one of the plans listed above, you can still see Yenit as a private pay client at $150 per 50-minute session. A superbill — a detailed receipt with diagnostic and procedure codes — can be provided for you to submit directly to your insurer for potential reimbursement if your plan has out-of-network benefits. A complete guide to how the superbill process works walks through the submission steps in detail. More information on all accepted insurance and pricing is on the pricing page.
The Good Faith Estimate
Under the federal No Surprises Act, effective since January 2022, you have the right to request a Good Faith Estimate of your expected therapy costs before scheduling. Xola Counseling provides this upon request, so there are no surprises about what you’ll owe before you begin.
Check If Your Insurance Covers Therapy at Xola Counseling
In-network with Aetna, Cigna, Quest, Carelon, and UHC. Virtual sessions across Texas and Florida. Free 15-minute consultation.