What is a superbill?

A: A superbill is an itemized monthly receipt from a cash-pay therapist containing the codes insurance needs — license/NPI number, service code (usually 90834 or 90837), diagnosis code, and amounts paid. You submit it to your PPO plan and the plan reimburses you, typically 50–80% of its "allowed amount" after your out-of-network deductible. HMOs (including Kaiser) generally pay nothing out-of-network.

Worked example: $200/session therapist, plan allows $140 at 70% → you get back $98/session once the deductible is met. Real cost drops from $200 to $102.

Do this: ask any private-pay therapist "Do you provide superbills?" — nearly all do. The full route, with the phone script for your plan →

Source: TherapyCalifornia insurance routes, August 2026.