What Is a Superbill and How Do You Use It for Therapy Reimbursement?

A superbill is an itemised receipt from your therapist that contains the specific billing codes and information required for you to submit an out-of-network insurance claim. If your therapist does not accept your insurance directly but you have out-of-network benefits, a superbill is how you get reimbursed.

What a Superbill Contains

A valid therapy superbill includes:

• Provider name, credentials and NPI (National Provider Identifier) number
• Provider’s Tax ID number
• Practice address
• Patient name and date of birth
• Date of service
• Diagnosis code (ICD-10 code) — your mental health diagnosis
• Procedure code (CPT code) — what type of session was provided (e.g., 90837 for a 60-minute individual therapy session)
• Fee charged

How to Use a Superbill to Get Reimbursed

Step 1: Ask your therapist for a superbill after each session or request them in batches.

Step 2: Check your insurance benefits for out-of-network coverage: “What is my out-of-network deductible? What percentage does insurance reimburse after the deductible? What is the allowed amount for CPT code 90837?”

Step 3: Submit the superbill to your insurance company. Most insurers accept online submission through the member portal or by mail to the claims address.

Step 4: Expect processing within 30 days. You will receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) showing what was reimbursed.

Step 5: If reimbursement is less than expected, check whether your out-of-network deductible has been met and whether the allowed amount is based on reasonable and customary rates for your area.

How Much Will Insurance Reimburse?

Out-of-network reimbursement typically works as follows:

• Your insurer sets an “allowed amount” for the service — often 80% of what they consider “usual and customary” rates in your area
• After your out-of-network deductible is met, insurance reimburses a percentage of the allowed amount — typically 40 to 70%
• You pay the remainder

Example: Therapist charges $200/session. Insurance allowed amount: $140. After OON deductible met: insurer pays 50% of $140 = $70. Your cost after reimbursement: $130.

When Is a Superbill Most Useful?

A superbill makes sense when:

• Your preferred therapist does not accept your insurance directly
• No in-network therapists are available or accepting new patients
• Your out-of-network benefits cover a meaningful portion of the cost

Frequently Asked Questions

Can any therapist provide a superbill?
Any licensed therapist can provide a superbill — regardless of insurance status. However, your insurance will only reimburse if you have out-of-network benefits and the therapist has the required NPI and Tax ID information included.

Do I need a diagnosis to use a superbill?
Insurance reimbursement requires a diagnosis code on the superbill. Your therapist must include a DSM-5 diagnosis. If you prefer to avoid a diagnosis on record, self-pay therapy (without insurance involvement) may be preferable.

Medical Disclaimer: Information on TherapyInsuranceGuide.com is for educational purposes only. Out-of-network benefits and reimbursement rates vary by plan — verify your specific benefits with your insurer.