It's one of the first questions people ask, and the honest answer is: usually not through traditional health insurance. But that doesn't mean you're on your own.
Why health insurance rarely covers coaching
Health insurance plans typically cover treatment for diagnosed medical or mental health conditions, provided by licensed health professionals. Coaching isn't a medical treatment and coaches aren't licensed clinicians, so most plans in Canada, the US, the UK and elsewhere don't include it.
Other ways coaching can be funded
- Employer learning and development budgets. Many workplaces pay for leadership or career coaching. It's worth asking your manager or HR team.
- Wellness or lifestyle spending accounts. Some employee benefit plans include a flexible wellness account that may cover coaching. Check your plan's details.
- Professional development or tax rules. In some situations, coaching tied to your work or business may count as a business or professional development expense. Talk to an accountant about your situation.
- Pay what you want. At Laven you "buy your coach a coffee" on a sliding scale, so you can get coaching without insurance or a big upfront commitment.
A note on therapy
If you need mental health treatment, therapy from a licensed professional is often partly covered by insurance or public health programs. See to work out which fits.
This article is general information, not financial or insurance advice. Always check your own plan.