Sasha Aurand has had to scramble for four years to find high-quality mental health care she can afford on her salary from running a website on psychology and sex.
The 25-year-old New Yorker suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome, depression and anxiety, and has no health insurance.
“So I’ve always had to find other solutions,” she tells MagnifyMoney. Aurand originally sought help for these conditions while still a college student in Indiana. But after the school’s counseling center referred her to a private practice she couldn’t afford, she researched, asked around, and found a community health clinic where a therapist helped her for $20 a visit.
After graduating from college, Aurand moved to New York, where she briefly had health insurance, enabling her to see what she describes as a “phenomenal psychiatrist,” for depression medications. But her insurance ended and she could no longer afford the psychiatrist’s $350/hour fee.
“So I went back to her and explained the situation and asked if there was anything she could do,” says Aurand. The psychiatrist agreed to see her for $100 a visit as long as Aurand paid in cash. Aurand now sees the doctor every three months.
When her PTSD flares up and she needs to talk to a therapist, Aurand goes to a community health clinic, the Ryan/Chelsea Clinton Community Health Center which offers a sliding scale base in her income, and pays $100-125 a session.
Aurand is not alone, having to be resourceful finding doctors and therapists in her price range. One out of five American adults with mental illness report they are unable to get the treatment they need, often due to cost. And with an uncertain healthcare climate in Washington, the challenges are unlikely to ease soon.
Although the Senate failed in its recent attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act--an effort, says Colin Seeberger, strategic campaigns director for Young Invincibles, “that would have allowed states to opt out of the A.C.A.’s essential benefits, such as substance abuse and mental health coverage”— there’s still some instability in the insurance markets as a result.
In such a confusing environment, how can you find the help you need at a price you can afford?
Here are a few options if you’re looking for affordable health care:
1. Work with a therapist-in-training
If you live near a university with a graduate psychology program, it most likely has an in-house clinic. You can see a trainee at one of these clinics for a reduced fee. Yes, the therapists are students, but each one is closely supervised by a seasoned, licensed professional.
Pros: “Because the therapists are still in school, they’re up to date on the latest developments in psychology,” says Linda Richardson , Ph.D., a psychologist who works with the National Alliance on Mental Illness in San Diego. “You’ll also have the advantage of two heads being better than one.”
Cons: Most trainees work at these clinics for a year or less. If you find someone you like, they’re eventually going to leave.
2. Consider group therapy
According to the American Psychological Association, group therapy works as well as individual therapy for many conditions, such as depression, P.T.S.D. and bipolar disorder—and for a fraction of the price. Erika Martinez, a psychologist in private practice in Miami, FL, for example, charges $150 an hour for individual therapy but only $65/hour for a group session.
Pros: There’s a lot of power in knowing you’re not alone. “When you share about your struggles in group where others have the same concerns, and you feel their empathy, that’s incredible,” says Martinez.
Cons: Some people aren’t comfortable speaking about emotional issues in a group. Also, you have to share the therapist’s attention with others.
3. Try online therapy
There are many online tools, including Breakthrough.com and Betterhelp.com that offer individual therapy sessions with licensed therapists over the phone or via a secure, HIPAA-compliant video for considerably less than an in-office visit. Rates vary, but if you search, you can find someone affordable.
Several California-based therapists (among the most expensive in the nation) on Breakthrough, for example, offer sessions for as low as $55 an hour. A note of caution: Choose someone licensed in your state. In case of an emergency, a therapist can only help secure needed services if you’re in the same state.
Pros: You can get high-quality, one-on-one therapy without ever having to leave your home, office, or pajamas—and at a reasonable cost.
Cons: Insurance often doesn’t cover phone or video sessions. “Also, you can’t fully see the nonverbal language of the therapist,” says Martinez. “And the Internet connection can be bad.”
4. Text or chat your way to better mental health
Therapy apps—which allow you to text or chat with a licensed therapist—are becoming increasingly popular. Among the many available are Betterhelp.com, Talkspace.com, and icounseling.com. Studies in both The Lancet and the Journal of Affective Disorders have shown that online therapy is an effective way to get help, and many services start for as little as $35 a week.
Pros: You can get help anytime, anywhere, even while sitting in a business meeting or on the subway. Also, it’s a good option for people afraid to walk into a therapist’s office.
Cons: Chat and text therapy, which are not covered by insurance, are inappropriate if you’re feeling suicidal or have severe mental illness. And some people find the technology alienating. “I tried one of these apps a few years ago,” says Aurand, “ and I just missed the human interaction of seeing a therapist in person.”
5. Tap into community resources for free or discounted counseling
You can find psychological and psychiatric care at public mental health clinics, which offer services for free or on a sliding scale, based on your income. Organizations devoted to helping survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse also offer a wide range of services, including free counseling. And religious organizations, such as Jewish Family Services, often offer therapy on a sliding scale. The best way to find resources in your community, says Richardson, is to dial the information hotline, 211, on your phone or look online at http://www.211.org
Pros: You can find good care for low or no cost.
Cons: The demand at public health clinics is huge and staffs are often overwhelmed. “There can be long waiting lists, especially for individual counseling,” says Richardson. “You may have better luck if you’re willing to join a group, such as anger management, that fits your needs.”
6. Ask about sliding scales
Many therapists offer a sliding scale based on a patient’s income. If you find a therapist you like, let him or her know your financial concerns and inquire about paying a lower fee. Another option is to check out Open Path Psychotherapy Collective, a nonprofit that lists therapists who offer a few weekly sessions at a lower rate. There’s a one-time $49 fee to join the collective; therapists in the collective charge $30 to $50 per session.
Pros: With a sliding scale, you get all the benefits of good, one-on-one therapy at a lower rate.
Cons: If you don’t re-assess the financial arrangement occasionally, says Martinez, “a therapist can become resentful or frustrated with a client,” especially if your income rises. To avoid this, discuss payments every few months to see if an adjustment is needed.
The Bottom Line:
When it comes to finding affordable mental healthcare, persistence is the key. “It can be really daunting, especially if you’re not feeling well or don’t have insurance and think you can’t get help,” says Sasha Aurand. “But if you take the time and do your research, you’ll find someone who wants to help you. There are a lot of good therapists and psychiatrists out there, and it’s not necessarily all about the money.”
MagnifyMoney is a price comparison and financial education website, founded by former bankers who use their knowledge of how the system works to help you save money.