Insurance Accepted & Pricing | Online Psychiatrist | Samz Mental Health

Insurance Accepted & Pricing | Samz Mental Health Online Psychiatry

Getting psychiatric care shouldn’t mean fighting with your insurance company or draining your savings. At Samz Mental Health, we are in-network with major commercial insurance plans across all nine states we serve — and for patients without in-network coverage, our self-pay rates are among the most affordable in telepsychiatry. No surprises. No hidden fees. Clear pricing before you ever book.


Insurance We Accept

Samz Mental Health is in-network with the following commercial insurance plans. If your insurer is listed below, you pay only your standard specialist copay — we handle the rest.

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Aetna

Most commercial Aetna plans accepted. Contact us to verify your specific plan.

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Cigna

In-network with commercial Cigna plans across our nine service states.

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UnitedHealthcare

In-network with UHC commercial plans. UHC covers telepsychiatry at parity.

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Optum

Optum behavioral health plans accepted across all service states.

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Carelon Behavioral Health

Formerly Beacon Health Options. Commercial Carelon plans accepted.

⚠️ Plans we do not currently accept: Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, and Tricare are not accepted at this time. If you are covered by one of these plans, our affordable self-pay rates and superbill option may still make care accessible. Contact us to discuss your options.

Self-Pay Pricing — Transparent, No Surprises

For patients without in-network coverage — or who prefer to pay directly — our self-pay rates are straightforward and significantly more affordable than most telepsychiatry platforms. HSA and FSA cards are always accepted.

Initial Visit
$120
per session
  • ✅ 60-minute comprehensive evaluation
  • ✅ Psychiatric diagnosis
  • ✅ Personalized treatment plan
  • ✅ Same-day e-prescription if appropriate
  • ✅ No referral required
Follow-Up Visit
$90
per session
  • ✅ 15–30 minute session
  • ✅ Medication review & adjustment
  • ✅ Side effect monitoring
  • ✅ Prescription refill
  • ✅ Ongoing psychiatric support

Book Your Appointment — Same Day Available


How Our Rates Compare

Our self-pay rates are significantly lower than most telepsychiatry platforms. Here’s how Samz Mental Health compares to industry benchmarks:

Provider Initial Visit (Self-Pay) Follow-Up (Self-Pay)
⭐ Samz Mental Health $120 $90
Industry average (NP/PMHNP) $250–$350 $100–$160
Large telepsychiatry platforms $299–$450 $129–$175
In-person psychiatrist (average) $350–$500 $150–$250

Competitor rates sourced from publicly available pricing pages. Rates subject to change. All Samz Mental Health pricing is fixed and transparent.


Payment Methods We Accept

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Credit & Debit Cards

Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Discover accepted through our secure patient portal.

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HSA Cards

Health Savings Account cards accepted. Psychiatric care is an IRS-qualified medical expense.

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FSA Cards

Flexible Spending Account cards accepted — use pre-tax dollars for your psychiatric care.

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In-Network Insurance

Aetna, Cigna, UHC, Optum, and Carelon — pay your copay only.


Understanding Your Insurance Benefits

Insurance coverage for telepsychiatry works exactly like coverage for in-person specialist visits. Here are the key terms you’ll encounter:

Term What It Means What to Ask
Copay A fixed dollar amount you pay per visit regardless of visit cost. Typically $20–$60 for specialist mental health visits. “What is my copay for outpatient telepsychiatry?”
Deductible The amount you pay out-of-pocket before insurance starts sharing costs. Resets annually. “Have I met my deductible? How much remains?”
Coinsurance Your percentage share of the cost after your deductible is met. Common: 20% coinsurance (you pay 20%, insurance pays 80%). “What is my coinsurance for outpatient mental health?”
Out-of-Pocket Max The most you will ever pay in a plan year. Once reached, your insurance covers 100%. “How close am I to my out-of-pocket maximum?”
In-Network A provider with a contract with your insurer. In-network visits cost significantly less than out-of-network. “Is Samz Mental Health in-network with my plan?”
ℹ️ How to verify your benefits in 3 minutes:

  1. Find the member services number on the back of your insurance card
  2. Call and ask: “I want to verify outpatient telepsychiatry benefits with an in-network PMHNP. What is my copay, and have I met my deductible?”
  3. Note your benefits, then book your appointment

Telehealth Parity Laws — Your Rights in Our States

All nine states where Samz Mental Health operates have enacted telehealth parity laws — meaning your insurer is legally required to cover telepsychiatry visits at the same rate as equivalent in-person visits. They cannot charge you more, limit your sessions more, or require prior authorization that isn’t also required for in-person care.

State Telehealth Parity Status
New York ✅ Full parity — NY Insurance Law requires coverage of telehealth at parity with in-person services
Texas ✅ Full parity — TX Insurance Code requires commercial insurers to cover telehealth equivalently
Florida ✅ Full parity — FL Statutes §627.42392 mandates coverage parity for telehealth services
Colorado ✅ Full parity — CO requires insurers to cover telehealth at parity and prohibits higher cost-sharing
Washington ✅ Full parity — WA law requires payment parity for telehealth and in-person services
Maryland ✅ Full parity — MD Health-General Article mandates telehealth parity for mental health services
New Hampshire ✅ Parity law enacted — NH RSA 420-J:8 covers telehealth parity for mental health services
New Mexico ✅ Full parity — NM requires coverage of telehealth equivalent to in-person care
Iowa ✅ Full parity — Iowa law requires commercial insurers to cover telehealth at parity

Superbills for Out-of-Network Reimbursement

If your insurance plan is not in our network, you may still be eligible for partial reimbursement through your plan’s out-of-network benefits. We provide a superbill — a detailed, insurer-formatted receipt containing CPT codes, diagnosis codes, and provider information — which you can submit directly to your insurance company. Out-of-network reimbursement rates vary by plan but commonly range from 50–70% of the visit cost.

To request a superbill after your visit, simply contact us through the patient portal. Superbills are provided at no additional charge.


Frequently Asked Questions — Insurance & Pricing

Does Samz Mental Health accept my insurance?

We accept Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, and Carelon Behavioral Health commercial plans. We do not accept Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, or Tricare at this time. To confirm your specific plan is covered, call the member services number on the back of your card and ask whether outpatient telepsychiatry with an in-network PMHNP is covered.

How much will I pay with insurance?

For in-network patients, you pay your plan’s standard specialist copay — typically $20–$60 per visit depending on your plan. If you have not yet met your deductible, you may owe more until it is satisfied. We bill your insurance directly and will notify you of any patient responsibility after your claim is processed.

Why is the self-pay rate at Samz lower than other telepsychiatry platforms?

Large telepsychiatry platforms carry significant overhead costs — platform fees, marketing, administrative layers — that get passed on to patients. Samz Mental Health is a focused, independent practice. Our pricing reflects our commitment to making board-certified psychiatric care accessible, not maximizing profit. At $120 for an initial visit, we are among the most affordable board-certified telepsychiatry providers in our states.

Can I use my HSA or FSA for appointments?

Yes. Both Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards are accepted. Psychiatric care — including evaluations, medication management visits, and prescription costs — is an IRS-qualified medical expense. Using pre-tax HSA/FSA dollars effectively reduces your out-of-pocket cost by 20–37% depending on your tax bracket.

What is a superbill and how do I get one?

A superbill is a detailed clinical receipt that includes your CPT procedure codes, diagnosis codes, provider NPI, and date of service — everything your insurer needs to process an out-of-network claim. We provide superbills at no charge upon request through the patient portal after your appointment. Reimbursement rates vary by plan.

Do I need to verify my benefits before my first appointment?

We recommend it — it takes about 3 minutes and ensures there are no billing surprises. Call your insurer, ask for your outpatient mental health specialist benefits for telehealth visits, and note your copay and deductible status. You can also simply book your appointment and our team will assist with benefits verification before your first visit.


Ready to Get Started?

Clear Pricing. Same-Day Access. Board-Certified Care.

Insurance accepted or self-pay at $120 initial / $90 follow-up. No referral. No waitlist.

📞 +1 (713) 489-5388  |  ✉️ samzmentalhealth@gmail.com

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