A health cash plan may contribute to therapy costs if an individual policy includes an eligible benefit. It is not the same as assuming that a provider will pay for a particular appointment. Cover, exclusions, benefit limits, renewal dates, referral rules, authorisation, practitioner requirements, receipt requirements, payment routes and timing can all vary by policy and by member. Before booking, it is sensible to ask the cash plan provider about the exact service being considered. For example: does the policy include outpatient talking therapy or CBT; does it require a GP referral, pre authorisation or a named provider; is there a yearly or per claim limit; does the member pay first; what must appear on the receipt; and is a remote or face to face session treated differently? The provider is the source of the decision. The Lyceum Clinic can give accurate information about the service, session fee and receipt after payment. It cannot confirm that a policy will reimburse a cost, decide eligibility, submit a claim on someone’s behalf, interpret a benefit or guarantee a payment date. A written response from the provider is useful to keep with the policy documents. It can be helpful to distinguish between a practical funding question and a therapy decision. A cash plan benefit may be one part of the decision, alongside the person’s needs, clinical appropriateness, access, safety, work, health and preferences. A website cannot tell someone whether CBT is appropriate for them or predict an insurer’s decision. If someone is considering therapy because of distress, it may be useful to start with the present question: what support feels needed now, whether there are physical or mental health symptoms needing medical attention, and whether urgent help is required. Funding should not delay urgent care where someone cannot keep themselves safe. For related information, see therapy fees at lyceumclinic.co.uk/fees/, using private health insurance at lyceumclinic.co.uk/insurance/ and the guide to private therapy without a GP referral at lyceumclinic.co.uk/guides/private therapy no gp referral/. Confirm individual cover directly with the provider before relying on a benefit.