Seeing an OON provider with Cigna PPO Plan, how does billing work?

I was told since I met my deductible that Cigna would cover 75% of the co-pay which for this PTSD treatment that I’m seeking, is $175 an hour (crazy I know), so I would be responsible for paying $45.

My question is, my provider recommended a payment platform called Thrizer which charges $9 for every single payment. Meaning, Thrizer would take care of the rest of the appointment cost, but just to use the platform, there is a fee.

I want to avoid paying this unnecessary fee at all costs. If I decide to pay my provider directly, without the use of a platform, what can I expect? Will I need to submit my billing statements to Cigna for a reimbursement? This provider does not accept any kind of insurance. The treatment does have a CPT code and I confirmed with Cigna over the phone that I am only responsible for 25%.

TL;DR: Do you have to pay the full cost for OON providers up front and wait for a reimbursement, or can the bill be submitted to health insurance first so you only pay what you were responsible for?

Note that my insurance ends September 30th. I don’t have time to wait for a reply from Cigna if multiple claims are submitted.

submitted by /u/bagelworshipper
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