Insurance, made simple
You focus on care. We handle the coverage.
Navigating insurance is the most common reason people delay therapy. It shouldn't be. As specialists in NYSHIP and The Empire Plan, we verify your benefits and bill your insurer directly — so the only thing left for you to do is show up.
The short answer
Does NYSHIP (The Empire Plan) cover therapy?
Yes. If you have NYSHIP through The Empire Plan, your outpatient mental health care — including online therapy anywhere in New York State — is covered, usually for just a copay. As NYSHIP-specialist therapists, we verify your benefits for free and bill the plan directly, so there are no forms and no surprises.
Our specialty
NYSHIP & Empire Plan specialists.
If you're a New York State employee, retiree, or covered family member, The Empire Plan likely includes strong mental health benefits — often with manageable copays and generous session allowances. We know this plan inside and out, and we put that expertise to work for you from your very first call.
How to get started
Three simple steps to your first session.
Here's exactly what happens after you reach out — no jargon, no surprises.
Verification
Share your insurance information when you request a consultation. Our team contacts your insurer and confirms your exact benefits — copay, deductible, session limits, and telehealth coverage. We translate it all into plain language so you know precisely what to expect.
Billing
Once you're matched with a clinician, we bill your insurance directly for each session. There are no superbills to submit, no reimbursement forms to chase, and no confusing statements. If a copay applies, we'll tell you the amount up front and keep it consistent.
Care
You begin therapy from wherever you are, anywhere in New York State. With verification and billing handled behind the scenes, every session stays focused on what matters: your wellbeing and your progress.
The plan we know best
We focus on one plan — NYSHIP — and know it inside out.
Michelle Brucella LCSW PLLC works exclusively with NYSHIP, the New York State Health Insurance Program — including the NYSHIP portion of The Empire Plan. That focus is your advantage: we know the benefits, the billing, and the process well, so coverage and billing are handled for you from your very first session.
Confirm my NYSHIP coverageFrequently asked
Questions, answered.
Yes — it's our specialty. We work with NYSHIP and The Empire Plan every day and understand the plan's mental health benefits in detail. When you reach out, we'll verify your specific coverage and explain exactly what to expect before your first session.
You just did. We're NYSHIP-specialist therapists offering online therapy across New York State. Reach out and we'll verify your Empire Plan benefits for free and bill the plan directly — no directory searching or cold-calling required.
Because we work exclusively with NYSHIP / The Empire Plan, your cost is typically just your plan's copay — which many members find very manageable. We verify the exact amount up front and bill your insurer directly, so there are never surprises on a bill.
No. We handle verification and bill your insurer directly. There are no superbills to mail in and no reimbursement forms to track. That's the whole point — we carry the administrative load so you don't have to.
Yes — for NYSHIP / The Empire Plan, online therapy sessions are typically covered just like any covered visit, with the same clinician and the same copay. We'll confirm the specifics for your coverage during verification.
Yes. We're based in Saint James but practice entirely by telehealth — our clinicians are licensed throughout New York State and work with clients from every region: Long Island, NYC, the Hudson Valley, the Capital Region, Western New York, and beyond.
Every session, message, and record is handled under strict HIPAA-compliant standards. Telehealth visits use encrypted, secure video, and our client portal and communications are protected end to end.
We specialize exclusively in NYSHIP, so it's the coverage we're able to accept. If you're a New York State employee, retiree, or covered dependent with The Empire Plan, you're in exactly the right place. Not sure whether you have NYSHIP? Reach out and we'll help you check — and if it turns out we're not the right fit, we'll gladly point you toward a trusted provider.
Most clients hear back within one business day of requesting a consultation, and verification is usually complete within a day or two after that. Because we're a team rather than a single provider, we can often match you to a clinician quickly.
Let's verify your benefits — for free.
Send us your plan details and we'll tell you exactly what's covered. No commitment.