How Much Does Seeing a Psychiatric Provider Cost in Tennessee?
With insurance, most Shrinkty patients pay a specialist copay for psychiatric visits — we verify your benefits before your first appointment so you know your cost up front. Self-pay is available if you're uninsured; call 615-716-8255 for current rates. ADHD testing is a flat $150 fee, and Spravato treatment often requires prior authorization from your plan.
Cost is one of the most common reasons people put off mental health care. Here's how psychiatric visits are actually billed in Tennessee, and what you can expect to pay at Shrinkty depending on your situation.
What will I pay if I have insurance?
Psychiatric care is billed to insurance the same way other specialist care is. For most plans, that means you pay a specialist copay at each visit, and your plan covers the rest according to its rules about deductibles and coinsurance. The exact number depends on your specific plan — two people with the same insurance company can have different copays.
That's why we verify your benefits before your first appointment. When our team calls to schedule you, we've already checked what your plan covers for psychiatric care and therapy, so you know what a visit should cost before you're sitting in one.
Which insurance plans does Shrinkty accept?
Shrinkty is in network with most major plans serving Tennessee, including BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and BlueCare, Cigna and Evernorth, Aetna, Humana, Medicare, TRICARE, Wellpoint (Amerigroup), UnitedHealthcare commercial plans, Oscar, and Ambetter. Networks change from time to time, so check our Insurance & Costs page for the current list — or just ask when you call.
What if I don't have insurance?
Self-pay is available. Rates depend on the type of visit — a new-patient evaluation takes longer than a follow-up, for example — so call us at 615-716-8255 and we'll walk you through current self-pay pricing before you commit to anything.
Do follow-up visits cost the same as the first one?
Usually not. A new-patient evaluation is the longest and most involved visit, and it's billed accordingly. Follow-up visits — where medication is adjusted and progress is reviewed — are shorter and typically billed at a lower level, though your copay may be the same flat amount either way, depending on your plan. Therapy sessions are billed separately from medication visits, so if you're doing both, each has its own copay. Early in treatment, follow-ups tend to be closer together while your plan is being tuned, then spread out as things stabilize — which means the cost of care usually front-loads and then tapers.
How much does ADHD testing cost?
ADHD testing at Shrinkty is a flat $150, due at the time of service. The testing fee itself isn't billed to insurance, which keeps the price predictable — no surprise balance later. If the evaluation supports an ADHD diagnosis, the ongoing care that follows — medication management and therapy — is billed to your insurance in the usual way, typically at your regular specialist copay.
How does paying for Spravato work?
Spravato® (esketamine) is an in-office treatment for adults 18 and older with treatment-resistant depression, and it's handled differently from a standard visit: most insurance plans cover it but require prior authorization first. That means your plan reviews documentation of the antidepressants you've already tried before approving treatment. Our team works through that paperwork with your insurer before you start, so approval — not billing — is the first step. The manufacturer also maintains cost-support information at spravato.com.
How do I avoid surprise bills?
Three habits cover most of it:
- Let us verify first. Benefits verification before your first visit is standard at Shrinkty — if anything about your coverage is unclear, you'll hear about it before the appointment, not after.
- Ask about visit types. New-patient evaluations, follow-ups, therapy sessions, and testing can be billed differently. If you're unsure what a visit will cost, ask when you schedule.
- Tell us when your insurance changes. A new plan, a new employer, or a new plan year can change your copay or deductible. A quick heads-up keeps your estimates accurate.
One more thing worth knowing: for most plans we accept, telehealth visits are billed like office visits, so choosing video over in-person generally doesn't change what you pay.
This article is for general education and isn't medical advice. For guidance about your own care, talk with your provider.