New York Therapist Insurance Rates (2026)

The median rate Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare / Optum, Horizon BCBSNJ have negotiated with New York 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 $106 (Cigna) to $156 (Horizon BCBSNJ).

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LMHC)

Code	Aetna	Cigna	UHC (Optum)	Horizon
90837 Therapy, 60 min	$136 $134 to $137 n = 8,129	$106 $90 to $123 n = 4,828	$130 $121 to $138 n = 3,114	$156 $156 to $183 n = 469
90834 Therapy, 45 min	$108 $105 to $108 n = 8,217	$74 $67 to $90 n = 4,828	$92 $82 to $101 n = 3,117	$104 $104 to $122 n = 469
90791 Intake evaluation	$146 $141 to $148 n = 8,231	$125 $112 to $146 n = 4,828	$144 $144 to $163 n = 3,114	$165 $165 to $197 n = 496
90847 Family therapy, with patient	$112 $108 to $113 n = 8,044	$79 $75 to $99 n = 4,828	$96 $93 to $101 n = 3,117	$125 $125 to $153 n = 469

Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)

Code	Aetna	Cigna	UHC (Optum)	Horizon
90837 Therapy, 60 min	$137 $136 to $137 n = 13,526	$101 $88 to $119 n = 7,182	$121 $121 to $138 n = 5,777	$183 $156 to $183 n = 1,150
90834 Therapy, 45 min	$108 $105 to $108 n = 13,771	$72 $67 to $88 n = 7,182	$82 $82 to $101 n = 5,822	$122 $104 to $122 n = 1,150
90791 Intake evaluation	$146 $141 to $148 n = 13,759	$116 $112 to $141 n = 7,182	$144 $144 to $151 n = 5,782	$197 $165 to $197 n = 1,188
90847 Family therapy, with patient	$112 $112 to $113 n = 13,349	$79 $77 to $94 n = 7,182	$101 $93 to $101 n = 5,821	$153 $125 to $153 n = 1,150

Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)

Code	Aetna	Cigna	UHC (Optum)	Horizon
90837 Therapy, 60 min	$136 $136 to $137 n = 520	$105 $97 to $123 n = 295	$130 $121 to $138 n = 225	$183 $156 to $183 n = 39
90834 Therapy, 45 min	$108 $105 to $108 n = 521	$72 $67 to $90 n = 295	$92 $82 to $101 n = 225	$122 $104 to $122 n = 39
90791 Intake evaluation	$146 $141 to $148 n = 521	$123 $112 to $146 n = 295	$144 $144 to $163 n = 225	$197 $165 to $197 n = 41
90847 Family therapy, with patient	$112 $108 to $113 n = 517	$79 $77 to $99 n = 295	$97 $93 to $101 n = 225	$153 $125 to $153 n = 39

Psychologists

Code	Aetna	Cigna	UHC (Optum)	Horizon
90837 Therapy, 60 min	$137 $136 to $137 n = 3,492	$111 $88 to $135 n = 1,889	$162 $154 to $162 n = 1,981	$183 $156 to $185 n = 281
90834 Therapy, 45 min	$108 $105 to $108 n = 3,549	$82 $81 to $105 n = 1,889	$110 $103 to $110 n = 2,054	$122 $104 to $123 n = 281
90791 Intake evaluation	$146 $141 to $148 n = 3,534	$136 $130 to $165 n = 1,889	$189 $175 to $192 n = 1,981	$191 $167 to $197 n = 283
90847 Family therapy, with patient	$112 $112 to $113 n = 3,427	$91 $91 to $112 n = 1,889	$114 $105 to $114 n = 2,049	$153 $130 to $154 n = 281

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.
Horizon BCBSNJ: Horizon managed care, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association network, file posted September 11, 2026.
Horizon BCBSNJ: Horizon managed care, individual and small group, file posted July 12, 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 New York practice location. Each clinician counts once per code and network. Where a payer publishes several networks, the one covering the most New York 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 New York for 90837?

For licensed professional counselors (LPC, LMHC) in New York, the median published rate for 90837 (60 minute psychotherapy) was $156 at Horizon BCBSNJ, $136 at Aetna, $130 at UnitedHealthcare / Optum, $106 at Cigna, in payer files posted between July 12, 2026 and October 5, 2026. These are allowed amounts, so they include the patient's share.

Which insurer pays New York therapists the most?

Among the payers we cover, Horizon BCBSNJ had the highest median 90837 rate for licensed professional counselors (LPC, LMHC) in New York ($156) and Cigna the lowest ($106). 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 New York 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 New York 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.

See where your own rates sit: compare your fee schedule with these New York rates, free and in two minutes. New to a panel? Start your credentialing with PECS.

Other states: Arizona, California, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin.

By the PECS credentialing team. Updated October 2026.