Wrapping Up 2025: Open Enrollment as an Opportunity to Support Your Mental Health

Jennifer Zare, LISW-CP

I’m excited to share that I’ve officially partnered with @joinmentaya, a platform that helps therapy clients get reimbursed through their out-of-network (OON) insurance benefits — with way less stress and paperwork.

This couldn’t come at a better time: open enrollment season is when many people are reviewing or changing their insurance plans, and it’s the perfect opportunity to understand what your mental health benefits really include — and how you can make them work better for you.

First — What Are Out-of-Network Benefits?

If your insurance plan includes out-of-network benefits, it means you can see a therapist who’s not directly contracted with your insurance company — and still get part of the cost covered.

Here’s what that usually looks like:

• You pay the therapist directly at the time of your session.

• After you meet your out-of-network deductible, your insurance may reimburse you for 50–80% of the session cost (depending on your plan).

• You submit claims to your insurance to get reimbursed — or, better yet, use a service like Mentaya to handle that for you.

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These benefits give you more freedom and flexibility — so you can work with a therapist who feels like the right fit, rather than being limited to a short in-network list.

How This Helps Clients

Out-of-network benefits aren’t new — but they’re often underused because many clients don’t realize what they’re entitled to. Here’s why this matters for you:

✅ More therapist options: You’re not boxed in by your insurance company’s network. You can choose based on fit, not just availability.

✅ Cost savings: Many plans reimburse a large portion of therapy fees after the deductible — making therapy more affordable long-term.

✅ Less insurance confusion: Mentaya checks your benefits, files claims, and tracks reimbursements for you — so you can focus on therapy, not paperwork.

How This Helps Therapists

As a therapist, partnering with Mentaya has opened up new ways to support clients without having to jump through insurance hoops myself.

Here’s how this partnership supports the work we do:

✅ Therapists can stay out-of-network and still support clients who want to use insurance.

✅ More accessibility: When clients can get reimbursed, therapy becomes a more sustainable option.

✅ No extra admin burden: I don’t have to file claims or navigate insurance systems — Mentaya handles that with the client. I can spend more time on perfecting clinical work and spending time with clients in therapy.

Why Open Enrollment Matters

Open enrollment is the one time each year when you can:

• Review or change your insurance plan

• Choose a plan with stronger out-of-network mental health coverage

• Make sure your benefits align with your mental health goals

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If you’re already in therapy, this is a great time to make sure you’re getting the most out of your plan. If you’re thinking of starting, this is the moment to explore your options with more clarity.

Want to Know What Your Plan Covers?

Mentaya offers a free, easy benefits checker that gives you a clear idea of what your out-of-network reimbursement might look like — click here to try it. It only takes a minute.

And if you have questions about how this could work in your specific situation, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to help you navigate it.

Final Thoughts

This partnership with Mentaya is all about empowering you — whether you’re a client who wants more flexibility or a therapist who wants to offer it.

Out-of-network benefits can make therapy more affordable and accessible — and with the right tools, they’re much easier to use than most people think.

Let’s make this the year you get the support you deserve — on your terms.