Reviewed by the Family Psychology Associates intake and billing team | Last updated June 2026 | Family Psychology Associates has served Tampa Bay since 1992.
In-network · Blue Cross Blue Shield & Florida Blue
If you carry Blue Cross Blue Shield, you are covered by the largest health insurer in Florida, and many of our clinicians at Family Psychology Associates are in-network with it. That means you can begin therapy at a predictable, contracted rate rather than paying the full cost out of pocket. This page explains how Blue Cross typically covers therapy, what affects your cost, and how to confirm your specific benefits before your first visit.
Blue Cross Blue Shield and Florida Blue
In Florida, Blue Cross Blue Shield operates as Florida Blue, and you may see either name on your card. Whether your plan is a local Florida Blue policy, an employer plan, or a BlueCard plan you brought from another state, the in-network relationship works the same way: our participating clinicians bill Blue Cross directly, and you are responsible only for your share, such as a copay or coinsurance.
We accept Florida Blue and, through the BlueCard program, most out-of-state Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. Your home plan’s benefits still apply, so we verify your specific coverage before your first visit.
How Your Blue Cross Plan Type Affects Coverage
Blue Cross offers several plan structures, and the type you have shapes how you access care:
- HMO plans keep costs lower by requiring you to stay in-network, and some HMO plans ask for a referral before behavioral health visits. It is worth confirming whether yours does.
- PPO plans offer more flexibility and usually allow you to see in-network and out-of-network providers, with the lowest cost when you stay in-network.
- High-deductible plans pair with an HSA and often require you to meet your deductible before coverage kicks in, which means your early-year sessions may cost more until the deductible is met.
Not sure which you have? The plan name on your card and a quick call to member services will tell you, and we are glad to help you sort it out.
What You Will Pay
Your cost with Blue Cross comes down to your copay, deductible, and coinsurance. If your plan has a flat therapy copay, you pay that same amount each session. If you have an unmet deductible that applies to therapy, you may pay the contracted rate until it is satisfied, then less afterward. We explain these terms in plain language on our insurance and fees page, and our intake team will tell you your specific number before you start.
How to Verify Your Blue Cross Benefits
Call the member services number on the back of your Blue Cross or Florida Blue card and ask whether you have outpatient behavioral health benefits, what your copay or coinsurance is, whether your deductible applies to therapy, and whether a referral is required. You can also let our intake team run this verification for you so your benefits are confirmed before your first appointment.
Blue Cross and Telehealth
Florida Blue covers telehealth therapy on most plans, and we provide telehealth across Florida. If you would rather meet from home or your schedule makes in-person visits hard to keep, telehealth lets you stay consistent with care. We will confirm telehealth coverage when we check your benefits.
Getting Started With a Blue Cross Therapist at FPA
Because not every clinician participates in every plan, our intake team will match you with a Family Psychology Associates clinician who is in-network with your Blue Cross plan and whose experience fits what brings you in, whether that is anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, or support for your child or teen. To begin, visit our Contact Us page.
Frequently Asked Questions: Blue Cross and Therapy
Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover therapy?
Yes. Outpatient mental health is a covered benefit on the large majority of Blue Cross and Florida Blue plans. Your specific cost depends on your copay, deductible, and coinsurance, which we can verify for you.
Is Family Psychology Associates in-network with Blue Cross?
Many of our clinicians are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Not every clinician participates in every plan, so tell us your plan and we will match you with one who does.
Do I need a referral to see a therapist with Blue Cross?
Most PPO plans do not require a referral, but some HMO plans do. This is one of the items to confirm when you verify your benefits, and we will flag it during intake.
My card says Florida Blue. Is that the same as Blue Cross?
Yes. Florida Blue is the Blue Cross Blue Shield company in Florida. Your in-network benefits work the same way under either name.
Can I use my Blue Cross plan for telehealth?
On most plans, yes, and we offer telehealth throughout Florida. We will confirm telehealth coverage for your specific plan before your first session.
A Note on This Information
This page is general information and not a guarantee of coverage. Benefits and costs vary by your individual Blue Cross plan, and final coverage is determined by your insurer. Our intake team verifies your specific benefits before your first appointment.