Speech therapy costs can be expensive. One session can cost up to $100. This may be an issue for families who are not prepared to pay this much money at once and/or on a recurring basis. This is especially true for families with children who have speech disorders.
Fortunately, speech therapy may be covered by health insurance. This means that your insurance company will help to pay for the cost of speech therapy sessions, making the process easier on you financially. Additionally, this means that you might be able to get more speech therapy sessions than you otherwise would have been able to afford.
However, it is important that your insurance company covers the cost of speech therapy before you begin using it as a solution for your child’s needs. If your insurance company does not cover the cost of speech therapy, or only covers some of it, then you may end up with a large bill that you must pay out of pocket at the end of each month or year. This could put a strain on your finances and make it difficult for you to afford other necessary expenses.
Speech therapy, also known as speech-language pathology, is the evaluation and treatment of communication disorders and swallowing difficulties. Speech-language pathologists, often called speech therapists, are health care professionals who hold at least a master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders.
Speech therapy is one of the most common forms of treatment for people with hearing impairments, and it’s typically covered by insurance. However, you should always reach out to your insurance company before scheduling a session to make sure that you’re familiar with your benefits, deductibles, and copays.
There are, in general, two types of speech therapy sessions: individual and group. Individual sessions are usually covered at a higher percentage by insurance companies than group sessions. This is because individual sessions can be more closely tailored to the individual’s needs than group sessions can be.
Group sessions have the benefit of being less costly, however—so if you choose to use them as well as individual sessions, you’ll get a wider range of care at a lower cost.
As a consumer, you have the right to choose your own speech-language pathologist (SLP). This means that if you are insured through a managed care plan that requires you to seek SLP services from an in-network provider, you can still ask for and receive services from an out-of-network SLP.
In some cases, with authorization from your health plan, you may be able to get some or all of your out-of-network benefits covered by your insurer. If you wish to use an out-of-network provider, contact your insurance company and ask the following questions:
What are my mental health benefits? What is my deductible and has it been met? How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover? How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider? Some people do not have insurance and cannot afford therapy. Some SLPs offer a sliding scale fee schedule based on income. Make sure to ask about this when looking for an SLP.