How Much Does an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Cost?
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) will typically cost between $6,000 to $21,000 out-of-pocket for a standard 8-12 week program if your costs aren’t covered by insurance.
The cost varies a lot depending on location, length of treatment and what your instance covers. Some programs will start at $250 per session, while others may run $350 or more.
Cost is one of the first things people ask us about at Los Angeles Outpatient Centre (LAOP) and that’s why we put together this guide. It’s also one of the first things we go over with anyone looking for treatment at LAOP as we want to ensure everyone understands what their insurance will cover and what their out-of-pocket costs may be before they start treatment.
IOP is structured mental health treatment you attend during the day and go home at night. Most people don’t pay the full price though. Insurance and cash-pay rates can move the number by thousands of dollars.
How Much Does IOP Cost Per Day, Per Week, and In Total?
IOP costs tend to be priced per day, and one day generally runs about $250 to $350. What your pay depends on where you live, how many sessions per week you’ll attend and what insurance you have.
Most people attend IOP three to five days a week. At three days a week, a week of IOP runs about $750 to $1,050. At five days per week, it’s closer to $1,250 to $1,750.
Across a month, that’s roughly $3,250 to $4,550 three days a week, and about $5,400 to $7,600 at five.
A full IOP program will run 8 to 12 weeks. A three-day-a-week program over 8 weeks is about 24 days of treatment, or roughly $6,000 to $8,400. A five-day-a-week program over 12 weeks is about 60 days, or roughly $15,000 to $21,000.
| What you’re paying for | Cost before insurance |
| Per day (about 3 hours) | ~$250 – $350 |
| Per week (3 days) | ~$750 – $1,050 |
| Per week (5 days) | ~$1,250 – $1,750 |
| Per month (3 days a week) | ~$3,250 – $4,550 |
| Per month (5 days a week) | ~$5,400 – $7,600 |
| Full 8-12 week course | ~$6,000 – $21,000 |
Every figure above is what IOP costs without insurance. Insurance and cash-pay rates both move the numbers. We’ll cover how insurance reduces what you may pay for IOP below.
Did you know most health insurance plans cover mental health treatment? Check your coverage online now.
What’s Included in the Price of an IOP Day?
A day of IOP is about three to four hours of clinical care with licensed professional therapists. Each day is billed at one flat daily rate which covers everything you do in a day of IOP, including:
- Group therapy, run by a licensed facilitator
- Individual sessions with your primary therapist
- Psychiatry and medication management
- Assessments like psych evals
Generally, each day will be billed as a whole rather than itemized line by line so you won’t see quotes or breakdowns for each session. Though some practices may occasionally offer per-session pricing.
If you need more than three hours of treatment a day, you’ll likely be referred to a partial hospitalization program (PHP), which most programs price higher because each day is generally 4-8 hours per day. Where the line falls between the two levels of care should be a clinical call, not a budget decision.
Why Do IOP Prices Vary So Much?
The price of IOP is generally based on five criteria:
- The kind of facility it’s based in: A hospital-based program is often more expensive than an outpatient center.
- Where it’s located: The cost of IOP usually depends on the cost of living in that particular area. An outpatient center in Los Angeles will likely cost more than a lower-cost market.
- How many days per week you attend: Though it should be a clinical decision, not a financial one, the number of days you’re in care impacts the overall cost.
- What’s included in the treatment plan: In some instances psychiatry, medication management, individual therapy all sit inside IOP, other times some parts may be billed on top.
- Whether the whole program is in person: Virtual IOP and therapy costs less than in person but to truly reap the benefits of IOP the vast majority of sessions should be in person, especially for group therapy.
When you’re first given a cost by a potential treatment provider make sure you confirm what’s included so there’s no surprises when the bill lands. At LAOP, our admissions team will review cost and insurance with you as a priority so you get the full picture before your program starts.
What Will You Pay for IOP With Insurance?
The biggest qualifier here is that it all depends on your insurance plan. However, with an in-network plan costs may range between $0 and $3,000 per month out-of-pocket.
Insurers authorize treatment in blocks. Initially you’ll be approved for a set number of days or weeks in IOP, then as that block concludes your care facility will work with your insurer to add additional treatment periods if required.
Our guide to how much IOP costs with insurance covers network status, deductibles, copay versus coinsurance, authorized days, and worked examples of what three plans pay. For how coverage works, see does insurance cover IOP.
How Can You Lower What You Pay for IOP?
The overall price of IOP can be daunting, especially if you’re unsure how much will be covered by insurance or if you know insurance won’t cover the cost of your treatment.
If you want to reduce the costs, here are five things you can consider:
- Ask for the cash-pay rate: Often the rate a program will charge insurance and the its self-pay rate are different figures. Enquire about self-pay rates and paying for treatment upfront if that could be an option for you.
- Enquire about payment plans and scholarships: Questions on payment plans and scholarships are common so any admissions team should have answers ready for you. Make sure to ask what’s included in any scholarships and what qualifies you to ensure eligibility. With payment plans, make sure to confirm if the balance can be spread across the length of the program.
- Discuss your care plan: In some cases fewer days per week could be an option. But try to ensure it’s a clinical decision not purely financial, if your care team thinks you need four or five days per week, opting for three may not be best for you long term.
- Ask about a single case agreement: If the program is out of network a single case agreement is where your insurer covers an out-of-network program closer to in-network terms.
- Ask for a free benefits check: Most programs run one at no charge. More on that below.
How Do You Get Your Own IOP Price?
The first thing to do is speak to your program’s admissions team. The ranges in this guide and every other guide online give you a good ballpark figure, but only the admissions team at your chosen provider can give you a true quote and check exactly what your insurance will cover.
A benefits check with the admissions team will tell you whether the program is in-network, what your share of the cost looks like, and how many days are authorized to start. Most programs run it for free.
At LAOP, we’re happy to do a benefits check for anyone looking into an IOP in the Los Angeles area. We’re a CARF-accredited outpatient center in Culver City and offer both IOP and PHP programs. We’re in network with Magellan, Blue Shield of California, TRICARE, and TriWest, and also work with Anthem, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare on an out-of-network basis.
You can reach us on 888-449-0852, or send the form on our site. Our admissions team would be happy to assist you, check your benefits, and give you a clear breakdown of what treatment will cost through your insurance plan.
If you’re in crisis, or thoughts of suicide have started showing up, call or text 988. That’s the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and a trained counselor answers around the clock. It’s free, and it’s confidential.
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