US Insurance Therapy Germany

Using Your US Insurance for Therapy in Germany — Superbills Explained

You can see a private English-speaking therapist abroad and still get reimbursed by your US insurance. Here’s how.

If you’re an American living in Germany, you may assume that paying privately for therapy means absorbing the full cost yourself. For many people, that isn’t true. If your US health plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits, you can often claim back a meaningful portion of what you pay — typically 50–80% — using a document called a superbill.

At PsyShrink, our founder Cynthia Kunze provides superbills on request, and many of our network therapists do too. This page explains exactly how it works, so you can decide before your first session.

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What is a superbill?

A superbill is an itemised receipt for the therapy sessions you’ve paid for. It contains the specific information US insurers require to process an out-of-network reimbursement claim:

The provider’s name and credentials
Date(s) of service
The fee paid
Standardised diagnostic and procedure codes (ICD and CPT codes) that US insurers recognise
The provider’s signature

You pay your therapist directly for each session. Then you submit the superbill to your US insurance company yourself, and — if your plan covers out-of-network mental health care — they reimburse you according to your policy.

How reimbursement actually works, step by step

1. You attend and pay for your sessions as normal. Therapy happens online or in person. You pay your therapist’s fee directly.

2. You request a superbill. Cynthia provides superbills on request. Many network therapists do as well — it’s always worth asking before you begin, and we’ll tell you clearly whether your chosen therapist can supply one.

3. You submit the superbill to your US insurer. Most insurers let you do this through their member portal, app, or by post. You’re claiming under your plan’s out-of-network benefits.

4. Your insurer reimburses you directly. Depending on your plan, you’ll be reimbursed a percentage of the fee — commonly 50–80% once any deductible is met.

How to check your own coverage before you start

Before your first session, call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask these five questions:

Do I have out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits?
Do you reimburse for sessions delivered by a provider located outside the United States?
What is my out-of-network deductible, and how much of it have I met this year?
Once the deductible is met, what percentage of the fee do you reimburse, and is there a session limit?

Write down the answers and the name of the representative you spoke with. This five-minute call tells you exactly what to expect — no surprises.

Frequently asked questions

Does every US insurance plan cover this? No. Coverage depends entirely on your specific plan. Plans with out-of-network mental health benefits usually reimburse a portion; HMO-style plans often don’t cover out-of-network care at all. The five questions above will tell you where you stand.

Does the therapist deal with my insurance company? No. You pay the therapist directly and submit the superbill yourself. This keeps things simple and means your therapist isn’t tied to any insurance network or its restrictions.

Will I get a diagnosis on the superbill? Insurers require a diagnostic code to process a claim, so a superbill includes one. Your therapist will discuss this with you. If you have concerns about what a diagnosis means for you, raise them in your consultation.

Do all PsyShrink therapists provide superbills? Cynthia Kunze is orginially from the USA and provides them on request. Other therapists in our network vary, so the best approach is to ask during your free consultation — we’ll match you with someone who fits both your needs and your reimbursement situation.

What about German private insurance? Our therapists practise under the German Heilpraktikergesetz, which means clients with private German insurance or supplementary (Zusatzversicherung) policies may also be able to claim. Ask us and we’ll explain how it applies to you.

Can I do this with online therapy? Yes. Many of our international clients work with us entirely online and claim successfully.

Start with a free consultation

The simplest first step is a free 15-minute consultation. We’ll talk through what you need, help you find the right therapist, and make sure you understand exactly how superbills work for your situation before you commit to anything.