What is a superbill?
A superbill is an itemized receipt for care a client has already paid for. It lists the diagnosis and procedure codes an insurance company needs, so the client can file their own claim and get back part of what they paid through their out-of-network benefits.
Therapists who don't take insurance use superbills to give clients a way to claim reimbursement without joining insurance panels. This page covers what goes on one, how clients submit it, and what decides how much they get back.
How a superbill works
The client pays you
They pay your full fee at each session, the same as any private-pay client.
You give them a superbill
It lists each session with its date, diagnosis code, CPT code and fee. Many therapists send one a month.
The client files a claim
They send the superbill to their insurer with the insurer's claim form, through the member portal or by mail.
The insurer pays the client back
How much depends on the client's out-of-network benefits. The money goes to the client, not to you.
What goes on a therapy superbill
Insurer claim forms list what the bill has to show, including your tax ID, the place of service, and the diagnosis and procedure codes. Anthem's form, for example, says it can't process cash register receipts or balance-due statements. A complete superbill has all of these:
About you
- Your name and credentials
- Practice name, address and phone
- NPI
- Tax ID or EIN
- License number
- Your signature
About the client
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Address
For each session
- Date of service
- Place of service code
- CPT code and a short description
- ICD-10 diagnosis code
- Your fee and what the client paid
Superbill example
A client seen four times in September for generalized anxiety disorder, one session by telehealth from home. The names and numbers are made up.
Superbill
Statement date 09/30/2026
Jordan Rivera, LCSW
Rivera Counseling, 100 Main St, Springfield
NPI 1234567890, EIN 00-0000000
License LCSW 00000
Client
Sam Taylor, DOB 04/12/1990
22 Oak Ave, Springfield
Diagnosis
F41.1 Generalized anxiety disorder
| Date | POS | CPT | Service | Dx | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/02/2026 | 11 | 90791 | Diagnostic evaluation | F41.1 | $200.00 |
| 09/09/2026 | 11 | 90837 | Psychotherapy, 60 min | F41.1 | $175.00 |
| 09/16/2026 | 10 | 90834 | Psychotherapy, 45 min | F41.1 | $150.00 |
| 09/23/2026 | 11 | 90834 | Psychotherapy, 45 min | F41.1 | $150.00 |
| Total paid | $675.00 | ||||
Signed, Jordan Rivera, LCSW
Superbill, invoice or insurance claim
The three documents look alike but do different jobs.
Invoice
- What it does
- Asks the client to pay you
- Who sends it to the insurer
- Nobody. The client pays it.
Superbill
- What it does
- Shows the client already paid, with the codes an insurer needs
- Who sends it to the insurer
- The client, with their insurer's claim form
Insurance claim (CMS-1500)
- What it does
- Bills the insurer directly for your services
- Who sends it to the insurer
- You or your biller, when you're in-network
How much clients get back
A superbill doesn't guarantee reimbursement. The client's plan decides, based on four things.
- Out-of-network benefits. Some plans, such as many HMOs, pay nothing for out-of-network care.
- The out-of-network deductible. Until the client meets it, the plan usually pays nothing.
- The allowed amount. The plan pays a share of the most it allows for the service, not a share of your fee.
- Coinsurance. The plan's share of the allowed amount, often less than its in-network share.
An example
A client pays $175 for a 90837 session. Their plan allows $120 for 90837 and pays 60% out-of-network once the deductible is met. They get back $72, so the session costs them $103.
Clients should call the number on their insurance card before they start therapy and ask what their plan allows for the CPT code you'll bill, what their out-of-network deductible and coinsurance are, and how long they have to file a claim.
What therapists should get right
- Use a billable diagnosis. Insurers need an ICD-10 code that supports medical necessity. Relationship problems coded only with a Z code, such as Z63.0, usually aren't covered. See the mental health ICD-10 codes.
- Bill the CPT code the time supports. A 50-minute session is 90834, not 90837. The mental health CPT codes page shows each code's time range.
- Mark telehealth sessions. Use place of service 10 or 02, and any modifier the client's plan asks for.
- Give a good faith estimate. The No Surprises Act requires one for clients who are uninsured or who don't want a claim sent to their plan, once a session is booked at least 3 business days ahead. The rule doesn't say whether a client who files their own superbill counts, so many out-of-network therapists give every private-pay client an estimate. CMS explains the estimate.
Make a superbill in a couple of minutes
The free superbill generator fills in the totals and prints a PDF. It runs in your browser, so nothing you type leaves your computer.
Frequently asked questions
Is a superbill the same as a receipt?
It's a receipt with more detail. A plain receipt shows a date and an amount, and insurer claim forms such as Anthem's say they can't process one. A superbill adds your tax ID, the place of service, the diagnosis code and the CPT code for each session, which is what an insurer needs to decide the claim.
Can I submit a superbill if my therapist is in-network?
Usually not. An in-network therapist bills your insurer directly, so there's nothing for you to file. Superbills are for therapists who are out-of-network with your plan.
Do superbills count toward my deductible?
If your plan has out-of-network benefits, the amounts it allows usually count toward your out-of-network deductible. Some plans keep that deductible separate from the in-network one, so check both numbers with your insurer.
What is the place of service code on a superbill?
It tells the insurer where the session happened. Use 11 for a session in your office, 10 for telehealth with the client at home, and 02 for telehealth with the client somewhere else.
Does insurance pay the therapist or the client?
The client. They already paid you and they file the claim, so the insurer reimburses them.
How often should a therapist give a superbill?
Whenever the client asks. Many therapists send one each month, which puts all of that month's sessions on one claim.
General information, not billing, legal or insurance advice. What a plan pays and what it needs on a claim vary by insurer, so clients should confirm with their plan.