Research / Therapist Insurance Rates
Arizona Therapist Insurance Rates (2026)
The median rate Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare / Optum have negotiated with Arizona therapists for the most common psychotherapy codes, from each payer's own published in-network rate file. Each cell shows the median, the middle half of rates (25th to 75th percentile) and n, the number of individual providers behind it.
For licensed professional counselors (LPC, LMHC), the median for a 60 minute session (90837) runs from $99 (Cigna) to $117 (Aetna).
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LMHC)
| Code | Aetna | Cigna | UHC (Optum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90837 Therapy, 60 min | $117 $110 to $126 n = 3,155 | $99 $59 to $113 n = 2,053 | $110 $110 to $119 n = 1,276 |
| 90834 Therapy, 45 min | $81 $74 to $93 n = 3,143 | $71 $55 to $81 n = 2,053 | $75 $75 to $80 n = 1,277 |
| 90791 Intake evaluation | $127 $119 to $142 n = 3,160 | $117 $55 to $135 n = 2,055 | $131 one standard rate n = 1,273 |
| 90847 Family therapy, with patient | $89 $78 to $100 n = 3,079 | $76 $55 to $90 n = 2,053 | $92 $92 to $94 n = 1,274 |
Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
| Code | Aetna | Cigna | UHC (Optum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90837 Therapy, 60 min | $119 $110 to $129 n = 1,440 | $98 $59 to $116 n = 993 | $110 $110 to $116 n = 564 |
| 90834 Therapy, 45 min | $81 $74 to $93 n = 1,436 | $71 $55 to $84 n = 993 | $75 $75 to $79 n = 566 |
| 90791 Intake evaluation | $127 $119 to $143 n = 1,454 | $122 $55 to $140 n = 993 | $131 one standard rate n = 564 |
| 90847 Family therapy, with patient | $92 $78 to $103 n = 1,413 | $78 $55 to $90 n = 993 | $92 $91.77 to $91.91 n = 566 |
Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
| Code | Aetna | Cigna | UHC (Optum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90837 Therapy, 60 min | $119 $110 to $135 n = 227 | $98 $59 to $116 n = 123 | $110 $110 to $121 n = 100 |
| 90834 Therapy, 45 min | $81 $74 to $102 n = 226 | $71 $55 to $81 n = 123 | $75 $75 to $82 n = 100 |
| 90791 Intake evaluation | $127 $119 to $148 n = 228 | $117 $55 to $133 n = 123 | $131 $131 to $138 n = 100 |
| 90847 Family therapy, with patient | $92 $78 to $113 n = 224 | $77 $55 to $93 n = 123 | $92 $92 to $96 n = 100 |
Psychologists
| Code | Aetna | Cigna | UHC (Optum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90837 Therapy, 60 min | $110 $110 to $121 n = 548 | $110 $82 to $141 n = 438 | $147 one standard rate n = 302 |
| 90834 Therapy, 45 min | $74 $74 to $88 n = 562 | $78 $76 to $110 n = 438 | $100 one standard rate n = 306 |
| 90791 Intake evaluation | $119 $119 to $135 n = 587 | $117 $76 to $179 n = 439 | $175 one standard rate n = 302 |
| 90847 Family therapy, with patient | $78 $78 to $92 n = 526 | $86 $76 to $112 n = 438 | $104 one standard rate n = 302 |
Sources
- Aetna: Aetna Life Insurance Company (PPO and open access plans), file posted October 5, 2026.
- Cigna: Cigna national Open Access Plus network, file posted October 1, 2026.
- UnitedHealthcare / Optum: Optum Behavioral Health (UnitedHealthcare behavioral network), file posted October 1, 2026.
Allowed amounts, including the patient's share. Rates with modifiers (such as telehealth) are excluded. Cells with fewer than 10 providers are not shown. UnitedHealthcare's behavioral network (Optum) often pays one standard rate statewide, so its range can be a single figure.
Method
Rates come from each payer's Transparency in Coverage in-network files. Clinicians are individual NPIs in the CMS NPPES registry with the license taxonomy and a Arizona practice location. Each clinician counts once per code and network. Where a payer publishes several networks, the one covering the most Arizona clinicians for that license and code is shown. The median is the middle negotiated rate across those clinicians, not what any one provider is paid. All states.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does insurance pay therapists in Arizona for 90837?
For licensed professional counselors (LPC, LMHC) in Arizona, the median published rate for 90837 (60 minute psychotherapy) was $117 at Aetna, $110 at UnitedHealthcare / Optum, $99 at Cigna, in payer files posted between October 1, 2026 and October 5, 2026. These are allowed amounts, so they include the patient's share.
Which insurer pays Arizona therapists the most?
Among the payers we cover, Aetna had the highest median 90837 rate for licensed professional counselors (LPC, LMHC) in Arizona ($117) and Cigna the lowest ($99). The order can differ by code and license type, so check the grid for yours.
Where does this data come from?
From each payer's Transparency in Coverage in-network rate files, which federal rules require insurers to publish monthly. PECS keeps individual clinicians with a Arizona practice location in the CMS NPPES registry and reports the median and the middle half of negotiated rates. It is not what any one provider is paid.
Can I negotiate a higher rate?
Often, yes. If your fee schedule is below the Arizona median for your license and code, a written, code-specific request that cites the payer's own published rates is a concrete place to start.
Other states: California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin.
By the PECS credentialing team. Updated October 2026.