Insurance & Superbills

Paying for Counseling

Insurance, Private Pay & Reduced Fees

Paying for counseling shouldn't be confusing. Darrell Ring Counseling accepts HealthChoice insurance. Clients may also choose private pay, request a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement, or ask about a limited reduced-fee option for uninsured or self-pay services.

Schedule an Appointment

✓ Payment Options

Clear Costs Before Counseling Begins

HealthChoice, private pay, superbills, and reduced-fee options are explained below so you can understand your payment path before starting counseling.

✓ HealthChoice accepted for covered services

✓ Superbills available for possible out-of-network reimbursement

✓ Reduced-fee option may be available for uninsured or self-pay clients

Start Here

Which option applies to you?

Choose the path that best describes your insurance or payment situation.

✓

I Have HealthChoice

We can submit claims directly to HealthChoice for covered counseling services.

Using HealthChoice ↓

▤

I Have Another Insurance Plan

Counseling is private pay, but your plan may include out-of-network benefits. We can provide a superbill for possible reimbursement.

Superbills & Out-of-Network Benefits ↓

I Want to Use Private Pay

Some clients choose private pay for privacy, flexibility, or because they are not using insurance for counseling.

Private Pay ↓

↧

Cost Is a Barrier

A limited reduced-fee option may be available for uninsured or self-pay clients based on household income and household size.

Reduced Fees ↓

Using Insurance

If You Have HealthChoice

Darrell Ring Counseling accepts HealthChoice. Your individual cost will depend on your specific plan and benefits.

Schedule Your Session

Schedule your appointment normally through Darrell's secure client portal.

We Bill HealthChoice

Darrell Ring Counseling submits claims to HealthChoice for covered counseling services.

You Pay Your Portion

Your responsibility depends on your plan and may include a deductible, copay, coinsurance, or other member responsibility.

Before Your First Visit

We recommend confirming your benefits.

HealthChoice offers different plan options, so your individual cost may differ from another member's.

✓ Confirm outpatient mental-health counseling benefits under your plan.

✓ Ask what deductible applies and how much you have already met.

✓ Confirm your applicable copay or coinsurance.

✓ Confirm whether any prior authorization or referral is required for outpatient counseling.

Other Insurance Plans

What if I don't have HealthChoice?

You can still see Darrell.

For clients with other insurance plans, counseling is private pay. Depending on your plan, you may have out-of-network mental-health benefits that reimburse you for part of the cost of counseling.

We can provide a superbill to help you pursue that reimbursement.

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What is a superbill?

A superbill is a detailed receipt containing information your insurance company may need to process an out-of-network claim.

It can include your dates of service, type of counseling service, diagnosis code when applicable, provider information, and the amount paid.

A superbill does not guarantee reimbursement. Your insurance company determines whether your plan covers out-of-network counseling and how much it pays.

Private Pay

You can choose private pay even if you have insurance.

Some clients prefer not to submit counseling claims to their insurance company. Others use private pay when a service or circumstance does not meet their insurance plan's requirements for covered, medically necessary treatment.

The decision about whether to use your insurance benefits is yours.

Good Faith Estimate: Uninsured and self-pay clients receive a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges before services begin or upon request. If a reduced fee is approved before the estimate is issued, the estimate will reflect the approved rate. If a reduced fee is approved after an estimate has already been provided, the practice may issue a revised estimate when needed.

Reduced-Fee Counseling

When cost is a barrier

Darrell Ring Counseling offers a limited sliding-fee option for uninsured or self-pay clients based on annual household income and household size using the current HHS Poverty Guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.

Sliding-fee rates must be approved before services are provided. Clients should plan to complete the application and submit supporting documentation as part of the review. Approved reduced-fee rates may be reviewed every 6 months or when financial circumstances change.

Important: This sliding-fee schedule applies only to uninsured or self-pay services. It does not waive, reduce, or replace insurance copays, coinsurance, or deductibles unless permitted by the client's insurance plan, payer contract, and applicable law.

How reduced-fee review works

✓ Request a sliding-fee application through secure messaging.

✓ Complete a short application about household size, annual household income, income frequency, and insurance or self-pay status.

✓ Plan to provide documentation as part of the application review, such as a recent pay stub, tax return summary, benefits letter, unemployment statement, or bank statement showing income deposits. If documentation is unavailable, the practice may consider self-attestation.

✓ Watch your email and secure Client Portal for follow-up messages, document requests, and approval information.

✓ Receive an approved rate before the reduced fee applies.

Requesting an Application

Need a sliding-fee application?

If cost is a barrier, you may request a sliding-fee application through secure messaging.

New clients can request an application through the secure contact form. When Darrell replies through the secure messaging portal, you will receive a notification at the email address you provided.

Returning clients can sign in to the Client Portal online or through the SimplePractice Client Portal app. Use the messaging section, shown as a message icon in the top right corner, to request an application.

Please watch the email address you use with the portal for secure message notifications and follow-up requests. If you use the SimplePractice Client Portal app and have notifications turned on, you may also receive an app notification when Darrell replies.

New Clients: Request an Application Returning Clients: Sign In

Not sure what to say?

You can copy and paste this simple message:

Hi Darrell, I would like to request a sliding-fee application. Please let me know the next step.

2026 Sliding-Fee Schedule

Approved self-pay rates

These rates are based on annual household income and household size. You do not need to calculate your own income range. The application asks for the information needed to determine whether a reduced self-pay rate is available.

Reduced self-pay rates by income range and counseling service.
Income Range	First Intake Appointment	Individual Counseling, 53+ minutes	Individual Counseling, 30 minutes	Family Counseling Session
Lowest income range	$75	$60	$30	$60
Lower income range	$100	$80	$40	$80
Moderate income range	$120	$95	$50	$95
Higher reduced-fee range	$135	$110	$55	$110
Standard self-pay rate	$150	$120	$60	$120

The practice uses the current HHS Poverty Guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C. to help determine income range. Clients do not need to calculate this themselves.

Billing codes may appear on Good Faith Estimates, superbills, or insurance documents. The plain-language descriptions above are provided to make the fee schedule easier to understand.

How Income Is Reviewed

You do not need to figure out the guideline yourself.

Reduced-fee applications are reviewed using annual household income and household size. Household generally means people who live together and share financial responsibility, including the client, spouse or partner when applicable, and dependents.

The practice uses the current HHS Poverty Guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C. to help determine the approved reduced-fee range. Clients do not need to calculate percentages or decide which range applies before requesting an application.

Example: A household of three with an annual household income of $45,000 may qualify for a reduced self-pay rate. The exact rate is determined after the application is reviewed.

2026 Income Guideline Chart

Want to see where your household may fall?

This chart shows the 2026 annual household income levels used to help determine reduced-fee ranges. You do not need to calculate this yourself before requesting an application.

The application asks for your household size and annual household income, and the practice uses that information to determine whether a reduced self-pay rate is available.

2026 annual household income guidelines for reduced-fee review.
Household Size	Lowest Income Range	Lower Income Range	Moderate Income Range	Higher Reduced-Fee Range	Standard Self-Pay Rate
1	Up to $23,940	$23,941–$31,920	$31,921–$39,900	$39,901–$47,880	Over $47,880
2	Up to $32,460	$32,461–$43,280	$43,281–$54,100	$54,101–$64,920	Over $64,920
3	Up to $40,980	$40,981–$54,640	$54,641–$68,300	$68,301–$81,960	Over $81,960
4	Up to $49,500	$49,501–$66,000	$66,001–$82,500	$82,501–$99,000	Over $99,000
5	Up to $58,020	$58,021–$77,360	$77,361–$96,700	$96,701–$116,040	Over $116,040
6	Up to $66,540	$66,541–$88,720	$88,721–$110,900	$110,901–$133,080	Over $133,080
7	Up to $75,060	$75,061–$100,080	$100,081–$125,100	$125,101–$150,120	Over $150,120
8	Up to $83,580	$83,581–$111,440	$111,441–$139,300	$139,301–$167,160	Over $167,160

For households larger than 8, the practice uses the current HHS Poverty Guidelines formula for each additional household member.

This chart is provided to help clients understand the reduced-fee review process. Final approval and the exact reduced rate are determined after the application is reviewed.

Secure Portal Updates

Watch for messages and document requests.

Reduced-fee review, paperwork, scheduling updates, and payment questions may be handled through the secure messaging portal.

Please watch the email address you use with the portal for notifications. If you use the SimplePractice Client Portal app and have notifications turned on, you may also receive an app notification when Darrell replies.

New Clients: Contact Form Returning Clients: Portal Sign-In

✓ New clients can request a sliding-fee application through the secure contact form.

✓ Returning clients can sign in to the Client Portal online or through the SimplePractice Client Portal app.

✓ In the portal or app, use the messaging section, shown as a message icon in the top right corner, to request an application or respond to follow-up messages.

✓ Download the SimplePractice Client Portal mobile app by searching for SimplePractice Client Portal in the App Store or Google Play.

✓ Use the portal to complete paperwork, respond to secure messages, and upload requested documentation when available.

For privacy and security, please do not send sensitive financial or counseling information through regular email unless the practice specifically instructs you to do so.

Common Questions

Payment questions made simpler

These are the details worth checking before you begin.

How do I check my out-of-network benefits?

Call the member-services number on the back of your insurance card and ask:

Do I have out-of-network benefits for outpatient mental-health counseling?

Is there an out-of-network deductible, and how much of it have I already met?

After the deductible, what percentage or amount does my plan reimburse?

Is reimbursement based on the therapist's actual fee or the plan's allowed amount?

Do I need prior authorization for outpatient counseling?

How do I submit an out-of-network claim or superbill?

Are telehealth sessions eligible for out-of-network reimbursement?

How does superbill reimbursement work?

1. Attend your counseling session.
Payment is made directly to Darrell Ring Counseling at the time of service.

2. Receive your superbill.
We provide documentation containing the information typically needed for an out-of-network claim.

3. Submit it to your insurance company.
Follow your insurer's instructions for submitting an out-of-network claim. Many insurers allow this through their online member portal.

4. Your insurer processes the claim.
If your plan includes out-of-network benefits, your insurer determines whether any portion of the session is reimbursable.

Can I use an HSA or FSA?

Counseling services may be eligible for payment using funds from a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

Because eligibility can vary, check with your HSA or FSA administrator if you have questions about your particular account.

Do you offer a sliding scale?

Darrell Ring Counseling offers a limited reduced-fee option for uninsured or self-pay clients based on annual household income and household size.

Reduced-fee rates are not automatic. They must be approved before the reduced rate applies, and clients should plan to submit supporting documentation as part of the application review.

How do I request a sliding-fee application?

If you are a new client, request a sliding-fee application through the secure contact form. When Darrell replies through the secure messaging portal, you will receive a notification at the email address you provided.

If you are a returning client, sign in to your Client Portal online or through the SimplePractice Client Portal app. Use the messaging section, shown as a message icon in the top right corner, to request an application.

Not sure what to say? You can write: Hi Darrell, I would like to request a sliding-fee application. Please let me know the next step.

Can reduced fees be used with insurance?

Usually, no. Insurance copays, coinsurance, and deductibles are determined by your insurance plan. The sliding-fee schedule applies only to uninsured or self-pay services unless a client's insurance plan, payer contract, and applicable law allow otherwise.

What documentation is needed for reduced-fee review?

Clients should plan to provide documentation as part of the reduced-fee application review. This may include a recent pay stub, tax return summary, benefits letter, unemployment statement, or bank statement showing income deposits.

If documentation is unavailable, the practice may consider self-attestation.

Will I receive a Good Faith Estimate?

Yes. If you are uninsured or choosing not to use insurance, you will receive a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges before services begin or upon request.

If a reduced fee is approved before your Good Faith Estimate is issued, the estimate will reflect your approved rate. If a reduced fee is approved after an estimate has already been provided, the practice may issue a revised estimate when needed.

How often is reduced-fee eligibility reviewed?

Approved reduced-fee rates may be reviewed every 6 months or when income, household size, insurance status, or financial circumstances change.

How will I know if I have a secure message or document request?

Please watch the email address you use with the portal for secure message notifications, document requests, forms, and follow-up information.

If you use the SimplePractice Client Portal app and have notifications turned on, you may also receive an app notification when Darrell replies.

Does completing the application guarantee approval?

No. Completing the sliding-fee application does not guarantee approval. Approved rates apply only after review and are not retroactive unless the practice approves otherwise.

Take the Next Step

Ready to Get Started?

Whether you're using HealthChoice, choosing private pay, planning to submit a superbill, or asking about reduced-fee availability, our goal is to make the financial side of counseling as straightforward as possible.

Schedule an Appointment Secure scheduling through the client portal