While we hope that our readers will never need a psychotherapist, the sad reality is that a certain number of colleagues need to consult them. However, there are some points to consider when choosing a therapist as regards subsequent reimbursement by JSIS.
Firstly and importantly, a psychotherapy needs prior approval [1] [1]. If you start the therapy sessions before having obtained the prior approval, JSIS will not reimburse these sessions. Even if the prior approval is finally granted, JSIS will only reimburse sessions that happened after the prior approval!
Another very important aspect to keep in mind is that during the prior approval process, the JSIS verifies that the proposed therapist is a recognised practitioner in the Member State where the treatment is happening (for most of us, this is the place of employment). If the practitioner is not recognised, JSIS will refuse the prior approval. “Recognised” here refers to recognised in the Member State where your sessions take place. Indeed, in most Member States, psychotherapy is a regulated profession; therefore, therapists exercising this work have to register with the national authorities and it is this registration that is verified by JSIS. Of course, the details vary from one Member State to the other, but there is one point to remember: it is not enough if the therapist is recognised in an arbitrary Member State – the therapist must be recognised in the country where the treatment takes place. If a country does not have a formal registration process, JSIS will ask for copies of the therapist’s diplomas to verify the qualifications.
Finally, please note that JSIS does not reimburse all types of psychotherapy [2], even if conducted by a recognised therapist. The qualification for reimbursement for a specific type of therapy is also verified during the prior approval process.
[1] January 2021 update [3]:
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, JSIS facilitates access to psychological support, by exceptionally and temporarily removing the requirement to request prior authorisation for the first 5 sessions. In concrete terms, it is sufficient to:
— the practitioner must be professionally and legally recognised by the national health authorities to practise the profession in the country in which the service is provided
— the words ‘Covid Context Psychological Support’ must be visible on the official receipt supplied by the practitioner
— your claim for reimbursement is submitted via JSIS online using the label ‘Covid Context Psychological Support’ in the menu of types of reimbursement/benefits.