If you’ve ever looked for a therapist who isn’t “in network,” you’ve probably had that ugh moment:
“I really want to work with them… but can I actually afford this?”
The good news is — there are tools that can make therapy way more affordable, even if your therapist doesn’t take insurance directly. Two of the most popular ones are Thrizer and Mentaya.
They both help you use your out-of-network benefits — but they work a little differently. Let’s break it down.
🧾 What “Out-of-Network” Actually Means
When your therapist isn’t contracted with your insurance, you pay their full session fee out of pocket.
But if your plan includes out-of-network (OON) coverage, you can often get reimbursed for a percentage of that cost — usually somewhere between 40–80%, depending on your deductible and plan.
Traditionally, you’d have to submit something called a superbill (a fancy receipt) to your insurance company and wait weeks or months for reimbursement.
That’s where Thrizer and Mentaya come in — they handle that messy insurance part for you.
💳 How Thrizer Works
Thrizer acts kind of like a payment platform for therapy. You pay for your sessions through Thrizer instead of directly to your therapist.
Here’s the cool part:
Thrizer checks your out-of-network benefits right away.
If your insurance covers part of the cost, Thrizer can let you just pay what you owe — similar to a copay — and they cover the rest up front.
They handle the claim for you and wait for the insurance reimbursement, not you.
Basically, you get to pay less out-of-pocket at each session, and your therapist still gets paid their full rate right away.
It’s quick, easy, and can make therapy feel a lot more financially doable.
🧠 How Mentaya Works
Mentaya also helps you use your out-of-network benefits — but in a slightly different way.
You still pay your therapist their full fee up front.
Mentaya then automatically submits the claim to your insurance for reimbursement.
Once your insurance processes it, you get reimbursed directly — usually by check or direct deposit.
Mentaya doesn’t “float” the difference like Thrizer does, but they make the claim process completely hands-off. No more filling out forms or chasing down your insurance company.
They even have a benefits checker tool that tells you exactly what your coverage looks like before you start therapy, so there are no surprises.
⚖️ So… Which One Should You Use?
It really depends on what you’re looking for.
If you’d rather pay less up front and have someone handle the insurance side completely for you, Thrizer is probably your best fit. They take care of everything behind the scenes so you can focus on therapy instead of paperwork.
If you prefer to pay your therapist directly and then get reimbursed later — but still want the process to be quick and hassle-free — Mentaya might be a better choice.
Both Thrizer and Mentaya let you check your out-of-network benefits before you even start, so you know exactly what your insurance covers.
And if your biggest goal is to reduce financial barriers and start therapy now, Thrizer’s pay-as-you-go model can make getting started a little easier on your wallet.
💬 The Bottom Line
Both Thrizer and Mentaya make therapy more accessible if your therapist is out-of-network — they just take slightly different routes to get there.
If you’ve been holding off on starting therapy because of cost or insurance confusion, tools like these can make a huge difference. They take the headache out of billing so you can focus on what really matters: your healing, your growth, and your life.
If you’re working with me, I’m happy to help you figure out which option makes the most sense for you and walk you through how to set it up. You can also easily submit your insurance claims yourself. A lot of insurance companies have an app or a website where you can submit claims. These are just resources if you can’t wait for the money to be returned or don’t want to worry about submitting superbills on your own.
EMDR Therapy in Issaquah, WA | Serving Sammamish, Bellevue, North Bend & Snoqualmie
Virtual across Washington State.