What Is a Superbill, and How Does Reimbursement Work?

A superbill is an itemized document from your therapist that you can submit to your insurance company when requesting reimbursement for sessions you paid for directly. It may help you access out-of-network benefits, but it does not guarantee coverage or payment.

What a superbill includes

A superbill generally includes identifying information about you and your provider, session dates, charges, service codes, and a diagnosis code. Your therapist prepares it, and your insurer may also require a claim form or additional documentation. Submitting a superbill shares the information it contains, including the diagnosis, with your insurer.

How reimbursement works, step by step

You pay for your session directly, and your therapist provides the superbill.

You submit it to your insurance company, usually through the member portal or app.

If your plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits and the service meets its requirements, you may receive partial reimbursement after any applicable deductible. Reimbursement is often based on the insurer’s allowed amount, which may be lower than your therapist’s fee

How much comes back varies by plan, and some plans do not include out-of-network benefits at all, so it is worth one phone call before you begin. Your insurer can explain your benefits and provide an estimate, but the amount paid depends on how the claim is processed.

What to ask your insurance company

Does my plan include out-of-network benefits for mental health?

What percentage is reimbursed, and is there a deductible I need to meet first?

How do I submit a superbill, and how long does reimbursement take?

Is reimbursement based on the full session fee or an allowed amount?

Are there diagnosis, provider, referral, authorization, or filing-deadline requirements?

Will eligible claims count toward my out-of-network deductible even before reimbursement begins?

How this works at Lavela

Sessions are $250 for 50 minutes, paid directly, and you can request a superbill from your account for every session so you can seek reimbursement from your plan. Eligible sessions may qualify for FSA or HSA payment. The companion piece explains what to check: can I use my FSA or HSA to pay for therapy. If you are still deciding whether support is the right next step, our short self-check helps you see where you are: the self-check. And when you are ready, booking starts here.