Insurance & Payment Options for Counseling

PICK YOUR OPTION

Ways to Pay for Counseling

For many years, Cornerstone Christian Counseling has operated as a private-pay practice. Beginning in 2026, we are excited to begin accepting a limited number of insurance plans as part of a phased rollout.

This transition will happen gradually:

Insurance services will initially be available through our Tier 1 student intern counselors and participating Tier 2 pre-licensed counselors.
We plan to expand access across our clinical team over time.
Our goal is to have insurance options available across multiple clinician tiers by August 2026.

Please note: Not all clinicians accept insurance, and availability will vary by provider and location.

PAYING WITH INSURANCE

How to Use Insurance at Cornerstone

After each session, we will submit the billing claim to your insurance company, and they will send you a summary called an Explanation of Benefits (EOB).

This document is not a bill but rather shows what portion of your session was covered, any remaining balance that you may need to pay, and how much was applied toward your deductible or coinsurance.

Helpful Hint: Don’t forget to compare your EOB with the invoice you receive from Cornerstone. Then you can make sure that payments were applied correctly and your remaining balance matches with your insurance reports. If you notice any differences or have questions, our billing team is here to help walk through it with you!

Which counselors accept insurance?

Some Cornerstone counselors are in-network with select insurance plans, such as Aetna and Optum. This means your sessions may be partially covered depending on your plan and benefits. Other counselors are private pay only.

At the top of this page, you can click on the colored buttons to view the counselors that currently accept insurance for each network. To further narrow down your selection, use the filter functions on the Find Your Counselor page to pick certain locations, specialties, and more.

What is a deductible and how does it affect counseling costs?

A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for healthcare services before your insurance begins to share the cost.

If your deductible has not been met, you will typically pay the full session fee until it is reached. After that, your insurance may begin covering part of your counseling sessions, depending on your plan.

Because insurance plans vary, we recommend contacting your insurance provider before your first session to ask:

What is my deductible amount?
How much of my deductible has been met so far?
What will my cost per counseling session be?

Please note:

Payment is due at the time of service
Coverage and reimbursement are determined by your insurance provider
We cannot guarantee insurance payment or reimbursement

What is the difference between in-network and out-of-network?

“In-network” means a counselor has a contract with your insurance company, which usually results in lower out-of-pocket costs.

“Out-of-network” means the counselor does not have a contract with your insurance, but you may still receive partial reimbursement depending on your plan. We can provide a Superbill if needed.

How do I know if my insurance will cover counseling?

We recommend contacting your insurance provider before your first session and asking:

Do I have mental health benefits for outpatient therapy?
Is this provider in-network or out-of-network?
What is my deductible and copay?
How many sessions are covered?

Can Cornerstone contact my insurance for me?

For clients using in-network insurance (such as Aetna and Optum), our team will handle billing claims on your behalf.

For all other insurance plans:

We do not contact insurance companies or verify out-of-network benefits.
You will be responsible for submitting Superbills and working directly with your insurance provider for reimbursement.

If your therapist is unable to assign a diagnosis code, your Superbill may be incomplete and could be denied by your plan.

If using in-network insurance outside of the plans listed above (or Medicare) is your only option, we recommend contacting your insurance provider for a list of in-network providers in your area.

Can I switch from private pay to insurance?

Yes, in most cases you can switch — provided your current counselor is in-network with your specific insurance plan and your plan covers your specific therapy needs.

If you’d like to make the switch, please notify our client care team or your counselor at least 7 business days before your next scheduled session. We will need to verify your benefits, check your deductible, and confirm your copay amount.

Please keep in mind that switching to insurance means your insurance company will require a formal clinical diagnosis to cover the sessions. Also, any accumulated out-of-pocket costs from your private pay sessions cannot be retroactively applied to your insurance deductible.

Important considerations when using insurance

While insurance can make counseling more accessible, there are a few important things to be aware of:

A mental health diagnosis is required and becomes part of your medical record
Insurance companies may request access to clinical information, such as treatment plans or progress notes
You may still have out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, co-pays, or coinsurance
Not all services (such as couples or family therapy) are typically covered
Not all clinicians are eligible for insurance reimbursement
Our 10% discount programs only apply to self-paying clients who are not using insurance

If you’re not sure whether or not to use your insurance, please contact our billing team for more details. We’re happy to help you make an informed decision about your payment options.

PAYING WITHOUT INSURANCE

How to Use Self-Pay at Cornerstone

If your plan is not listed above — or if your preferred counselor is not accepting insurance — you can still access care at Cornerstone as a self-pay client.

Many of our clients choose to:

Use Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds
Utilize out-of-network benefits through their insurance

What if I want a counselor who doesn’t accept insurance?

Some Cornerstone counselors do not accept insurance and operate on a private pay basis. This allows for greater flexibility in care and does not require a diagnosis or insurance approval for services.

If you choose a counselor who does not accept insurance, we can provide a Superbill upon request that you may submit to your insurance provider for possible out-of-network reimbursement.

We recommend contacting your insurance company before your first session and asking:

“Do I have out-of-network benefits for outpatient mental health services?”
“What is my out-of-network deductible, and has it been met?”
“How do I submit a Superbill for reimbursement?”

Please note:

Payment is due to Cornerstone at the time of service.
Reimbursement is not guaranteed and is typically partial.
Many plans do not reimburse for couples or family counseling unless medically indicated.

Why don’t all of your counselors accept insurance?

While we try to make therapy as accessible as possible, credentialing with insurance companies is a lengthy and restrictive process. Some of our counselors may be in-network, while others choose to remain out-of-network depending on the kind of individualized care they desire to provide. When providers don’t take insurance, it allows them the freedom to determine the length and frequency of your sessions based on your needs, rather than insurance company quotas.

Also, some counselors will have limited spots for insurance clients, so we would be happy to put you on a waitlist or match you up with another clinician with insurance availability.

Note: If a counselor you love is out-of-network, we can gladly provide you with a Superbill (or itemized receipt) that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.

What is a Superbill?

A Superbill is an itemized receipt that includes the insurance codes needed for you to submit a claim to your out-of-network insurance company. (You do not need a superbill for in-network insurance claims.)

Depending on your plan, you may:

Receive partial reimbursement for services
Have payments applied toward your out-of-network deductible

Every plan is different, so we recommend contacting your insurance provider before your first session to understand your benefits.

Can I pay with my HSA or FSA Card?

We gladly accept Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards, as long as they have a major credit card logo.

These accounts often cover individual counseling services, particularly when tied to a diagnosable mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, or addiction.

However, there are some limitations:

Marriage or family counseling is typically not eligible, unless part of a treatment plan for a diagnosable condition.
We recommend checking with your plan administrator or tax advisor if you’re unsure.