EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy is a groundbreaking type of psychotherapy that therapist use to help treat the side effects of trauma. Patients and psychotherapists alike have applauded EMDR therapy for its ability to desensitize individuals to their traumatic experiences enough to allow them to deal with the memories in a positive way. But can you expect your insurance company to cover EMDR therapy?
Does Insurance Cover EMDR Therapy?
Some insurance carriers DO cover EMDR therapy. However, many insurance companies stipulate the coverage to “Medical Necessity.” This means that they will only cover the EMDR Therapy sessions if they are deemed medically necessary.
When is EMDR Therapy Medically Necessary?
Each insurance company has different stipulations, but Aetna — for example — currently considers EMDR therapy a medical necessity for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Therefore, depending on your diagnosis and what the EMDR is being used to treat, insurance may cover EMDR sessions.
Does Aetna Cover EMDR Therapy Sessions?
Aetna will only cover EMDR Therapy Sessions if they are related to the treatment of PTSD. If you do not currently have a diagnosis for PTSD, but rather for trauma, you may need some basic therapy sessions with a therapist for them to diagnose your symptoms as PTSD. In this case, you would be allowed to move forward with EMDR sessions covered by insurance after a diagnosis for PTSD has occurred.
NOTE – Coverage ALWAYS varies by plan, so reach-out to your plan administrator for more details, or start your Aetna Pre-Qualification through AZRI Now | Click Here >>
Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover EMDR Therapy Sessions?
Yes, Blue Cross Blue Shield typically covers EMDR Therapy sessions for “mental health conditions.” Mental health conditions include depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Further, as anxiety and depression are common symptoms of many other mental health conditions, it is highly likely that Blue Cross Blue Shield will cover your EMDR Therapy sessions.
NOTE – Coverage ALWAYS varies by plan, so reach-out to your plan administrator for more details, or start your BCBS Pre-Qualification through AZRI Now | Click Here >>
How Can I Start EMDR Therapy Sessions Through Insurance?
The first thing you need to decide is who you want to see for a therapist. Different therapists accept different types of insurance plans, so the very first thing you need to do is decide on the therapist you would like to see. At The Arizona Relationship Institute (AZRI), we have our staff therapists listed at 3 levels of care based on their Licensure. View our staff page to get familiar with our therapists and staff.
Next, you will need to do an Insurance Pre-Qualification to determine if your insurance will cover sessions with your therapist, and what modalities of therapy the insurance plan will cover. At AZRI, we offer a free prequalification for both Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), and Aetna Insurance Carriers. You give your plan information to our intake specialists, and they check your coverage and have this information available to you at the time of your FREE CONSULTATION.
What If My Insurance Does NOT Cover EMDR Therapy Sessions?
If your Insurance Carrier does not cover EMDR Therapy sessions with AZRI, you can still get the EMDR therapy sessions if you would like, though you may have out-of-pocket costs associated with this. You can also apply for discounted therapy sessions with AZRI to help cover the costs. Our Associate Therapist program allows for certain types of therapy to be provided by our therapists in-training that are working towards their full licensure and are in-school currently. Apply for Discounted Therapy at AZRI with our Associates Program >>
Read about other types of therapies psychotherapists offer HERE >>
If you are set on your insurance covering therapy sessions, but insurance does not cover EMDR therapy in particular, there are many other types of effective psychotherapies that may be available and covered under insurance. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), art therapy, talk therapy, and other forms of psychotherapy may be a better match for your needs — both financial and mental.
Get Started With Therapy at The Arizona Relationship Institute
At AZRI, we make getting started with therapy incredibly easy. Just take the first step of requesting a call-back from our intake specialists. They will contact you back and show you how to proceed to the next step.
You can get things moving even faster by filling out an insurance pre-qualification form, if you have Aetna, or Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance.
Start your BCBS Pre-Qualification through AZRI Now | Click Here >>
Start your Aetna Pre-Qualification through AZRI Now | Click Here >>
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