The four ways Therapy gets paid for
- Out of pocket. The most common route today. Fees vary widely between Practitioners, which is exactly why prices should be visible before you book, never after.
- Private Insurance. A growing number of Kenyan medical covers include Mental Healthcare Benefits, often unused because Members do not know they exist. One call to your Insurer, asking specifically about outpatient mental health cover, can uncover Benefits you have been paying for all along.
- Through your Employer or University. Many Organizations fund counselling Benefits or employee assistance lines, confidentially. HR can tell you what exists without asking why you want to know, and a well-run Benefit keeps who used it away from your Employer. It is fair to ask how yours handles that before you book.
- Low-cost and community options. Teaching institutions, faith-based counselling centres and NGO programmes offer reduced-fee Care. Quality Care is not only found at full price.
Questions worth asking before the first Session
- What is the fee per Session, and do you offer a sliding scale based on income?
- Do you work with my Insurer directly, or do I pay and claim back?
- How many Sessions does my cover include per year, and is a referral required?
- Is there a cancellation fee, and how much notice does it need?
None of these questions are rude. Practitioners answer them every week, and a clear answer up front saves both of you an awkward conversation later.
What we are doing about it
Heyrafiki was built on the conviction that Finding and Funding Care belong in the same system. Every price on the Platform is visible before anything is booked. Insurance-covered Care gets claimed automatically, without paperwork landing on you or your Therapist. And Practitioners are paid instantly, so their time goes into Sessions instead of chasing invoices.
Cost will stay a Real constraint for many People for some time. Our job is to make sure it is never a surprise, and less of a barrier every year.
Cover details differ between Insurers and policies. Confirm your specific Benefits with your Insurer or HR team before you plan around them.
