Using private health insurance to access psychological therapy can be a straightforward way to get the support you need. Leading providers like AXA, BUPA, Cigna, WPA, and Aviva often cover mental health services, allowing you to benefit from high-quality care without the full financial burden. Here’s how to navigate the process.

Getting Started with a Referral

To begin, you typically need a referral from your GP or a psychiatrist, depending on your insurance provider’s requirements. Once you have a referral, contact your insurance company to confirm coverage for psychological therapy. They will provide you with an authorisation code. Sometimes they require you to name a clinician. Usually your provider will tell you how many sessions are covered. Sometimes a lock of sessions is authorised but other times only one or two sessions are authorised and a report will be required from your therapists following the initial appointment.

What to Provide

When booking your therapy sessions, you will need to provide:

• Membership Number: This is your unique identifier with your insurance provider.
• Authorisation Code: Issued by your insurer, this code authorises a set number of sessions with a specific therapist.
• Number of sessions authorised
• Whether you are required to submit a report following the initial appointment

Key Considerations

While insurance can cover much of your therapy, there are a few important factors to keep in mind:

• Excess Contributions: Check if your policy requires an excess payment, which is the amount you pay before insurance coverage starts. Some policies require you to pay an excess during every policy year so if you have sessions over more than one policy year you may have to pay another excess. Other policies require you to pay a percentage towards every session.
• Session Limits: Many policies have a cap on the number of sessions they will cover, so be sure to clarify this with your provider upfront.

Coverage at Circle Psychology Partners

At Circle Psychology Partners, many of our psychologists are covered by major insurance providers, making it easier for you to access care. However, it is crucial to verify with us that your chosen psychologist is registered with your insurance provider, as not all are covered by every company. Additionally, note that couples counselling, family therapy and sessions with our psychotherapy and counselling team are not covered by insurance policies, so these will need to be funded privately.

By understanding your insurance coverage and knowing what to expect, you can make the most of your benefits while accessing the support you need for your mental well-being.