Friday Health Plans for Therapy

Friday Health Plans is a health insurance company that insures individuals and families in a handful of states across the country. Friday Health Plans was created to offer comprehensive coverage for people who buy their own health insurance, including freelancers, independent contractors, and the self-employed.

Does Friday Health Plans cover therapy?

Yes, Friday Health Plans plans offer coverage for in-network mental health services, including therapy. They believe that mental health is just as influential for well-being as physical health, which is why they make therapy services accessible and budget-friendly for their members. They offer coverage for sessions with therapists that are in their network as well as therapists on Teladoc, a telehealth platform.

How do I check if my Friday Health Plans plan covers therapy?

To check if your Friday Health Plans plan covers therapy, locate your plan’s Summary of Benefits document, which can be found through your Member Portal on the Friday Health Plans website. The Summary of Benefits document is a helpful document because it tells you how much you’ll be required to pay out-of-pocket by service type.

When looking at the Summary of Benefits document, find the section titled, “If you need mental health, behavioral health, or substance abuse services.” Then look under “Outpatient services,” where you'll have two options: working with an in-network or out-of-network provider.

You can also speak with a Friday Health Plans’ customer service representative to learn more about your plan and your mental health benefits.

How much does therapy cost with my Friday Health Plans plan?

Therapy is free when you work with a therapist that is in-network with Friday Health Plans. That means you will not have to pay anything out-of-pocket for these sessions. However, should you wish to work with a therapist that is out-of-network with Friday Health Plans, you will not receive coverage and be responsible for paying the full session fee.

Therapy is also free when you work with a therapist on Teladoc, Friday Health Plans’ telehealth offering. However, you may need preauthorization before your therapy sessions are free.

What types of mental health conditions does Friday Health Plans cover?

Many people use their Friday Health Plans plan to get mental health treatment, including for the following mental health conditions:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Alcohol abuse
• Drug abuse
• Grief and loss
• Eating disorders
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

As with many other health insurance plans, you will need to get a diagnosis from your therapist to continue to access your mental health benefits. This is so Friday Health Plans can monitor your progress and ensure that you’re receiving adequate care. If you are uncomfortable receiving a diagnosis, then you may want to privately pay for your sessions.

What types of therapy does Friday Health Plans cover?

Friday Health Plans covers many types of therapy as long as they’re provided by a credentialed mental health professional who is in-network with Friday Health Plans. Many of the therapists in-network with Friday Health Plans are psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, licensed professional counselors, or nurse practitioners. Therapy approaches must be evidence-based, meaning they have clinical research backing its efficacy.

Some commonly used evidence-based therapy approaches include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)
• Biofeedback

Many therapists blend or integrate multiple therapy approaches in their work with clients, tailoring treatment based on the client’s unique situation and therapy goals. This is called integrative or eclectic therapy.

What types of therapy does Friday Health Plans NOT cover?

Friday Health Plans does not cover mental health services provided by clinicians who are not professionally qualified and licensed. This excludes many therapists who are solely life coaches. Friday Health Plans also do not cover types of therapy that lack a strong evidence base of efficacy. This includes reiki healing, acupuncture, nutritional therapy, and more.

Does Friday Health Plans cover online therapy?

Yes, Friday Health Plans plans cover online therapy and actively encourage it through their offering of Teladoc services for their members. Teladoc offers members access to primary care doctors, psychiatrists, and therapists around the clock. Friday Health Plans also fully cover all online sessions with in-network therapists, the same as in-person sessions.

Does Friday Health Plans cover couples therapy?

Friday Health Plans does not provide coverage for couples therapy, similar to many other health insurance plans. These types of sessions are also not available through Teladoc.

Couples therapy can still be helpful, and there are other options when it comes to paying for these sessions. Many people work with an individual therapist on relationship issues or conflicts as a way to improve their relationships.

Do I need to see my primary doctor before starting therapy?

No, you do not need to see your primary doctor before starting therapy, as Friday Health Plans are EPO plans. This means that you do not need to receive a referral before you meet with a therapist or a specialist. As soon as you’re ready to start your therapy journey, you can start your search for a great Friday Health Plans therapist.