Once you’ve made the decision to move forward with exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), you’ll likely first look into whether or not your insurance covers it. Because ERP is a specialized form of OCD therapy, it’s often more expensive. While some people may find that their insurance easily covers ERP therapists and sessions without any issue, others may learn that ERP isn’t covered by their insurance provider.
If that’s the case, however, that doesn’t mean you don’t have options. Regardless of your insurance coverage, here’s how you can still find affordable ERP therapy that works for you.
Finding in-person ERP therapy on a budget
The International OCD Foundation lists several resources for alternative options to seeking ERP therapy when your insurance just won’t cover it. These include:
- A list of clinics that offer scholarships for patients seeking treatment — in this way, people can get individual funding provided for their treatment under clinical scholarship
- A resource directory that lets you search for professionals and clinics that offer sliding-scale payment plans that allow you to pay what you’re able to pay
- A compilation of ongoing OCD research studies that patients can be a part of to get low- or no-cost treatment while helping to potentially discover new treatment options. Some of these even pay participants for their time!
You can also inquire with your insurance about a Single Case Agreement, or SCA, which is a contract between your insurance company and an out-of-network provider that allows you to see that provider using in-network benefits. The insurance company and the provider will negotiate the amount your insurance will pay for each session as part of the SCA. This can help to cover the costs of ERP even if it’s not specifically covered in your existing insurance policy.
These options provide you with a few different approaches to take to get lower-cost ERP therapy that works for you. However, we know that, depending on your circumstances, these alternatives may not be the easiest or most accessible options. Thankfully, with modern accessibility to virtual therapy, there are affordable options just a few clicks away.
Finding virtual ERP therapy on a budget
Therapists across the world have turned to telehealth and virtual treatment, even for some intensive outpatient and partial-hospitalization programs, such as the program at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital. More and more mental health providers are realizing the benefits of online options, because all anyone needs to get started with online treatment is an internet or cell phone connection, a licensed therapist and a desire to make a change.
Thanks to this shift, you can find mental health providers and apps offering digital counseling and therapy for a whole range of diagnoses. While services like BetterHelp and Talkspace are openly discussed and recommended as affordable virtual treatment options for people experiencing diagnoses like depression, anxiety, grief and trauma, it can be difficult to find a trusted provider with experience in ERP for OCD.
Thankfully, NOCD is the perfect resource for anyone hoping to try ERP for OCD. Our platform makes it easy for people to find an experienced therapist specializing in ERP from their laptop or digital device, and we try to keep it as simple as possible for you to find the care you need that fits your lifestyle, your schedule and your budget.
With a nationwide network of highly trained specialists, NOCD provides one of the most affordable options for ERP therapy. When you schedule a free call with our team, we guarantee that we’ll find you a licensed therapist in your state trained in ERP. Even better? More than 90% of our clients are seen within two weeks of booking their first appointment.
In the NOCD platform, you’re able to have live video sessions with a licensed therapist specializing in ERP, and you gain access to support between sessions from self-help tools and peer communities. Plus, NOCD therapy is clinically proven to significantly reduce impairment and distress from OCD symptoms, and we partner with many major insurance plans to make therapy even more convenient and affordable.
Take your time find the solution that works for you
There’s a lot to consider when determining the right treatment plan for you. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable with your form of therapy, your therapist and the cost of your sessions. The last thing you want on top of the overwhelm you might feel maneuvering a new diagnosis is the stress of worrying over how to afford it.
If you or someone you know is struggling with OCD, you can schedule a free call today with the NOCD clinical team to learn more about how a licensed therapist can help. At NOCD, all therapists specialize in OCD and receive ERP-specific training. ERP is most effective when the therapist conducting the treatment has experience with OCD and training in ERP.