What type of mental health licenses are going to be covered by insurance compani!
Question: Looking to become a mental helth practicioner, but I want to get a license (degree) which would allow for insurance companies to cover the patients I'd be seeing.
I don't want my future clients to pay out of pocket.
Which degrees or licenses are insurance companies willing to cover? I know they cover Phd's and LCSW's, which other type of practicioners do they cover?
Answers: Looking to become a mental helth practicioner, but I want to get a license (degree) which would allow for insurance companies to cover the patients I'd be seeing.
I don't want my future clients to pay out of pocket.
Which degrees or licenses are insurance companies willing to cover? I know they cover Phd's and LCSW's, which other type of practicioners do they cover?
All cover clinical psychologists (PhD) and almost all cover social workers (LMSW/LCSW). The other types of degrees aren't as likely to be covered. If you want to be a therapist and aren't really interested in research in mental health, go the social worker route--much faster (usually 18 months to 2 years versus 6 for the PhD) and pays almost as much.
Many people don't have mental health coverage with their insurance, though, and you would make more money in private practice with your clients paying out of pocket. Not saying that you would be in it for the money of course, but you do deserve to be paid what you are worth as a therapist and many psychologists and social workers are severely underpaid by insurance companies. Mental health does not have parity with physical health in managed care/insurance i.e., mental health workers are underpaid (except psychiatrists, they are sometimes overpaid!)
contact an office of mental health or blue cross to see what they cover.