The "Budget Question" - Insurance/Grant Opportunities for Music Therapy
Do you accept insurance?
It’s THE big question, and a valid one at that! The disappointing truth is that most health insurances still consider music therapy as an out of network service…however, there are other ways to receive financial assistance, and we would love nothing more than to provide you with as much education on resources as possible in order to give you the most opportunity!
HSA/FSA
One form of payment that we accept, which is helpful even if your insurance doesn’t offer coverage, are debit card payments from Health Savings Accounts (HSA)/Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). It should be said that your insurance company has to approve this spending, but music therapy is often considered a qualifying medical expense. Sometimes, you may need a Letter of Medical Necessity from a doctor or psychiatrist to state that music therapy is treating a current diagnosis or condition, but that’s something we will work to help you with as well.
Reimbursement
Another option is to pay up front for services, and then file a claim with your insurance for reimbursement. You would first need to verify with your insurance your out-of-network benefits and music therapy reimbursement eligibility, pay for services to A Suite Sound directly, and then submit supporting documentation with CPT codes (a ‘superbill’, provided by A Suite Sound) to your insurance to request reimbursement.
Per the AMTA (American Music Therapy Association), “Music therapy is comparable to other allied health professions like occupational therapy and physical therapy in that individual assessments are provided for each client, service must be found reasonable and necessary for the individual’s illness or injury and interventions include a goal-directed documented treatment plan.”
Grants/Financial Assistance Programs
If you choose to forgo the insurance route, you can seek alternate funding options through some grants or financial assistance programs. Below is the current most comprehensive list we can gather (click on each link to be directed to information about applying). Be sure to read the requirements carefully for each, as you may qualify for multiple grants and/or not meet certain eligibility.
The David Belshe Music Therapy Grant - must be an individual currently receiving music therapy services in the state of Texas
Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation (ASDF)- provides variety of assistance (iPads, financial assistance for camps, etc.) for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Music Movement Grant - (reopening Spring 2027) - for children, teens, and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual and Developmental Disorders (IDD)
People Project Grant - for children with medical diagnoses of ASD, dyslexia, Fragile X, Down Syndrome, etc. (see website for more extensive list)
Hunter Hinze Fund - for Autistic adults
Masonic Children Family Services Grant - for residents of Texas, 21 years old and under
Texas Mental Health Resources - financial assistance for mental health care costs
Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) Grant - one time grant for students K-12 enrolled in a public Texas school that receive special education services through an IEP
Music for All Access Fund - multiple scholarship and grant options, see website for more information
Autism Care Today - provides funding for families with children with Autism
Texas Medicaid Waivers:
Other Things to Note:
Services must be provided by a credentialed provider (in this case, a board certified music therapist, or MT-BC). A Suite Sound Music Center employs an MT-BC at each of its locations (Waxahachie, TX and Lake Jackson, TX).
If you are seeking music therapy services outside of Ellis County or the Lake Jackson area, please see the TX MT-BC Directory or CBMT Certification Directory. You can also contact the AMTA directly for more information, at: info@musictherapy.org or findMT@musictherapy.org, or (301) 589-3300.
More Resources:
Searchable Grant Resource List
MT Funding Resource Guide for TX
Music Therapy Funding Resources for Parents (blog)
