Over the past months, you may have noticed more confusion and concern around rising insurance costs, especially as you review renewal notices, employer benefit updates, or marketplace plan options for the coming year. These concerns are valid, and they reflect a broader national trend.
Across the United States, health plan costs are increasing for 2026. This includes higher premiums, rising deductibles, and greater out-of-pocket responsibilities for many individuals and families. These increases are affecting a wide range of insurance types, including employer-sponsored plans, individual policies, and ACA marketplace coverage. Mental health services are included in these changes.
Understanding these changes early can help reduce disruption and uncertainty, especially for clients who are already engaged in therapy or considering starting care. When insurance changes are anticipated, it becomes easier to plan and explore available options.
What’s Changing in 2026 Health Plans
Most insurance changes for 2026 fall into three categories that affect therapy differently. Understanding how each one works will help you anticipate costs more accurately.
Premium increases
Your premium is the amount you pay each month to keep your insurance active. Many plans are increasing premiums for 2026, which means your baseline healthcare cost may rise even before you use any services. Premium increases do not directly change the cost of a therapy session, but they do affect your overall healthcare budget and how much flexibility you may feel you have to start or continue care.
Higher deductibles
Your deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your insurance begins covering services. For many plans, deductibles are increasing in 2026 and reset on January 1. This is especially important for therapy, because sessions often fall under deductible-based coverage.
If your deductible increases, you may be responsible for the full contracted cost of therapy sessions until that deductible is met. This often surprises people who were used to lower early-year costs in previous plans.
Increased copays or coinsurance
Even after your deductible is met, many plans are adjusting copays or coinsurance percentages. A higher copay means you pay more per session. Coinsurance means you pay a percentage of the session cost, which increases as overall healthcare rates rise.
These changes apply across plan types, including ACA marketplace plans, employer-sponsored insurance, and individual or commercial policies. There is no single “2026 experience,” which is why reviewing your specific plan matters.
How Higher Deductibles and Premiums Can Affect Your Therapy Access
Higher deductibles and premiums affect when your insurance begins contributing to the cost of therapy. This is often felt most strongly early in the year, when deductibles reset and out-of-pocket responsibilities begin again.
If your deductible is higher, you may be responsible for the full contracted cost of therapy sessions until that deductible is met. Even after that point, increased copays or coinsurance can raise the cost of each session compared to previous years. As a result, expenses may appear earlier in the year and continue more consistently throughout your care.
In practical terms, these changes can affect your therapy access in several ways:
- You may pause or delay starting therapy while trying to understand new costs.
- Reassess session frequency based on affordability.
- Encounter unexpected charges if benefit details are unclear.
Beyond the financial side, uncertainty about costs can also create stress around continuing care, especially when you are balancing mental health needs with other financial responsibilities.
Options for Managing Out-of-Pocket Therapy Costs
When deductibles or cost-sharing increase, therapy expenses may apply before insurance coverage takes effect. In these situations, you may choose to explore structured payment options to manage short-term out-of-pocket costs while continuing care.
Patient financing programs are used across many healthcare settings, including mental health services. Options such as CareCredit, LendingClub Patient Solutions, and similar point-of-care lending tools allow eligible individuals to pay for services over time rather than in a single upfront payment. These programs are often used when deductibles have not yet been met or when insurance coverage is limited early in the plan year.
Terms, eligibility, and repayment structures vary by provider, and approval is not guaranteed. Reviewing all conditions carefully is important before choosing to use these options.
How These Options May Help
If you qualify and choose to use them, financing tools may:
- Allow therapy costs to be spread across scheduled payments
- Reduce immediate out-of-pocket burden during deductible periods
- Support continuity of care while insurance benefits are clarified
Important Considerations
Patient financing is optional and not appropriate for everyone. Approval is not guaranteed, and terms vary depending on the lender, credit profile, and selected repayment plan. Before choosing this option, it is important to understand how long repayment will last, whether interest applies, and what the total cost will be over time.
Steps You Can Take Now to Avoid Disruption
Insurance changes most often disrupt therapy because details are unclear until a bill arrives or a session is denied. Preparing ahead of time helps you stay in control of your care and avoid interruptions caused by cost surprises or administrative delays.
Verify Your Mental Health Benefits Before Starting or Continuing Therapy
Before the new plan year begins, confirm how your insurance covers outpatient mental health services. This includes whether therapy applies to your deductible, whether any sessions are covered before the deductible is met, and whether there are limits on the number of covered visits.
Ask How Deductibles and Copays Apply Specifically to Therapy
General insurance information is often not specific enough to predict therapy costs. When contacting your insurer, ask how deductibles, copays, or coinsurance apply to outpatient therapy sessions, and whether costs differ before and after the deductible is met.
Plan for Higher Costs Early in the Year
If your deductible has increased or resets on January 1, therapy may cost more at the beginning of the year until insurance coverage fully applies. Planning for this period allows you to budget appropriately, decide whether to maintain or adjust session frequency, and avoid feeling pressured to pause care due to unexpected early-year expenses.
Address Payment Questions Before Costs Become Urgent
If you anticipate difficulty covering early out-of-pocket costs, it is easier to explore options before bills accumulate. This may involve understanding billing timelines, confirming when insurance contributions will begin, or discussing payment timing or alternatives in advance.
Taking these steps helps you make decisions about your therapy based on accurate information rather than reacting to unexpected bills and last-minute financial pressure.
How Insight Therapy Solutions Helps You Navigate Cost Changes
Reviewing your benefits in advance, asking clear questions, and exploring available options can help prevent disruption and reduce stress. Support is available to help you navigate these changes and continue care thoughtfully and informed.
We support you with insurance verification, explain how benefits apply to therapy, and discuss financial considerations transparently so you can make informed choices about your care. Support is available before and after insurance changes take effect.
If you would like help reviewing your insurance benefits or discussing how upcoming changes may affect your therapy care, Book your 15-minute free Session today.
Additional Resources About Health Plan Costs in 2026
To explore more about how Nevada Medicaid is evolving in 2026, including managed care contracts, enrollment details, and plan information, the following resources offer up-to-date perspectives and official context:
ACA Marketplace Premiums Are Rising Significantly in 2026 —Marketplaces across the U.S. are seeing major premium increases, with insurers raising charges by around 26% on average for 2026. This shows how underlying premium costs are trending upward.
Legislative and subsidy uncertainty affects costs — Recent congressional action failed to extend enhanced ACA tax credits beyond 2025, making significant premium increases more likely for millions of Americans starting in 2026. AP News
Important note: Insight Therapy Solutions shares these options for informational purposes only. We do not endorse specific lenders. If you consider financing, we encourage you to visit the lender’s website, review terms carefully, and choose what fits your situation.
