Therapy & Assessment in CALGARY: Alberta Health Insurance

Alberta Health Insurance Coverage

Psychological assessment and therapy services pricing can be greatly reduced when your insurance company (such as Alberta Blue Cross, Sunlife, Manulife, Green Shield or other insurance companies) allow Albertan mental health professionals to direct bill for services.
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Wait a second, don't I pay taxes for universal health care?

Apprise Psychology recognizes that the Canadian and Albertan government doesn't fund most psychological assessments and therapy services.

Yes and no (so vague, I know 😅) 

As a resident of Alberta (other requirements for Alberta Health Care are here), you can apply for AHCIP (the acronym for Alberta’s universal health care). Your paper card will come in the mail and will enable you to access some health services in Alberta without paying out-of-pocket (this just means paying with your own money).

What are the types of health insurance?

Employee Benefits
Apprise Psychology recommends health insurance to access therapy and assessment services and decrease the amount you have to pay out of pocket.

When would someone need health insurance?

To protect your cash flow

 Let’s face the music

Paying out-of-pocket (this just means paying with your own money) for treatment (aka therapy sessions) can get pricey. 

Most Registered Psychologists and Registered Provisional Psychologists charge $220.00 per session. This is in line with the Psychologist’s Association of Alberta’s recommended fee schedule.

The amount of sessions needed to see a benefit depends on what you are seeking treatment for (for example, anxiety or depression) and what type of treatment you want to engage in (for example, emotion focused or behaviourally focused).

Usually, for any type of therapy, several sessions are needed to see a benefit and, not all types of therapy are suitable for each person, so you may have to switch to a different type of therapy to see the gains.

You are probably beginning to form a picture of how much therapy can cost out-of-pocket. Assessments can get expensive when paying out-of-pocket, as well. Most psychological assessments are priced as a package (for example, an ADHD assessment from start to finish for $1760.00). The price is set according to how much time is needed (usually $220.00 per hour).

Apprise Psychology recommends health insurance to access therapy and assessment services and decrease the amount you have to pay out of pocket.

Why is it a good idea to have health insurance?

To protect your cash flow

Let’s face the music

Paying out-of-pocket (this just means paying with your own money) for treatment (aka therapy sessions) Let’s face the music

Paying out-of-pocket (this just means paying with your own money) for treatment (aka therapy sessions) can get pricey. 

Most Registered Psychologists and Registered Provisional Psychologists charge $220.00 per session. This is in line with the Psychologist’s Association of Alberta’s recommended fee schedule.

The amount of sessions needed to see a benefit depends on what you are seeking treatment for (for example, anxiety or depression) and what type of treatment you want to engage in (for example, emotion focused or behaviourally focused).

Usually, for any type of therapy, several sessions are needed to see a benefit and, not all types of therapy are suitable for each person, so you may have to switch to a different type of therapy to see the gains.

You are probably beginning to form a picture of how much therapy can cost out-of-pocket. Assessments can get expensive when paying out-of-pocket, as well. Most psychological assessments are priced as a package (for example, an ADHD assessment from start to finish for $1760.00). The price is set according to how much time is needed (usually $220.00 per hour).

Apprise Psychology recommends health insurance to access therapy and assessment services and decrease the amount you have to pay out of pocket.

Why is it a good idea to have health insurance?

To protect your cash flow

Let’s face the music

Paying out-of-pocket (this just means paying with your own money) for treatment (aka therapy sessions)

Apprise Psychology recommends health insurance to access therapy and assessment services and decrease the amount you have to pay out of pocket.

What types of health insurance are there?

Employment
Psychological assessment and therapy services can be paid for by the alberta health insurance benefits included in your employment package from your employer. It is important to determine how much coverage you have per session for therapy and assessment services so that you benefit from maximum coverage.

Summary

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