One of the most common questions we hear from prospective patients is straightforward: how much does ketamine therapy cost, and can I afford it? It is a fair question, and we believe in answering it transparently. Cost should not be a barrier to understanding your options, so here is a clear breakdown of what ketamine therapy costs, what insurance may or may not cover, and how financing can make treatment accessible.

Cost Breakdown: What You Can Expect

At LUMUS, a single IV ketamine infusion typically ranges from $350 to $500. The standard initial protocol consists of six infusions over two to three weeks, bringing the total initial treatment cost to approximately $2,100–$3,000. This includes the psychiatric consultation, IV administration, continuous vital sign monitoring, and post-infusion recovery time at our Corona, CA clinic.

After the initial six-infusion series, maintenance infusions are scheduled based on individual response — typically monthly at first, then gradually extending to every six to eight weeks. Each maintenance infusion falls within the same per-session price range.

What Is Included in the Price

Every ketamine infusion at LUMUS includes:

  • Psychiatric evaluation: Your initial consultation with Dr. Garcia to determine candidacy and develop a personalized treatment plan
  • IV medication and administration: Pharmaceutical-grade ketamine prepared and administered by trained clinical staff
  • Continuous monitoring: Vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation) tracked throughout the infusion
  • Clinical supervision: Medical staff present for the duration of your session
  • Recovery time: Dedicated post-infusion recovery with clinical observation before discharge
  • Aftercare guidance: Recommendations for maximizing treatment benefit between sessions

There are no hidden fees. The price you are quoted is the price you pay.

Insurance Coverage: The Current Landscape

The most important thing to understand about insurance and ketamine therapy is this: IV ketamine for psychiatric conditions is considered off-label use, and most insurance plans do not cover the infusion itself. This is not unique to LUMUS — it is an industry-wide reality that reflects the gap between clinical evidence and insurance policy.

Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic, but its use for depression, PTSD, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions is off-label. While the clinical evidence supporting this use is substantial (response rates of 60–72% in treatment-resistant depression), insurance companies have been slow to update their coverage policies.

What May Be Reimbursable

While the infusion itself is typically not covered, certain components of your care may be eligible for insurance reimbursement:

  • Psychiatric consultation: The initial evaluation and ongoing psychiatric management may be billable to your insurance as standard psychiatric services
  • Medical monitoring: Some plans cover the medical supervision and monitoring components
  • Lab work: Any required blood tests or medical screenings are often covered under standard medical benefits

How to Submit Superbills

LUMUS provides detailed superbills (itemized receipts with procedure and diagnosis codes) that you can submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Many patients with out-of-network mental health benefits are able to recover a portion of their costs this way. Our administrative team can help you understand what codes to submit and how to navigate the reimbursement process with your specific insurer.

Financing Options: Making Treatment Accessible

We believe that financial constraints should not prevent someone from accessing effective treatment. LUMUS works with several financing partners to offer manageable payment plans:

  • CareCredit: A healthcare-specific credit card that offers promotional financing, including 0% APR periods for qualifying applicants. A six-infusion protocol can be structured into monthly payments starting from approximately $99 per month.
  • Affirm: Flexible installment plans that allow you to spread treatment costs over 3, 6, or 12 months with transparent, fixed payments and no hidden fees.

Both options allow you to begin treatment immediately while managing the financial commitment over time. Applications take minutes and do not affect your credit score for the initial check.

Comparing the Cost: The Value Proposition

The upfront cost of ketamine therapy is real, and we do not minimize it. But context matters when evaluating any medical investment. Consider the cost of the alternative for someone with treatment-resistant depression:

  • Medication trials: Each failed antidepressant trial represents 6–8 weeks of co-pays, psychiatric visits, and often lost productivity — multiplied by the 4–6+ trials that define treatment resistance
  • Ongoing therapy costs: Weekly therapy sessions at $150–250 per session add up to $7,800–$13,000 per year
  • Indirect costs: Lost workdays, reduced productivity, relationship strain, and diminished quality of life carry significant economic and personal costs that are difficult to quantify but deeply felt
  • Emergency care: Crisis interventions, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations for severe depression episodes can cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars per incident

Ketamine's rapid onset of action — meaningful improvement in hours to days rather than weeks to months — means patients can potentially reduce or eliminate some of these ongoing costs much sooner than with conventional treatment approaches. For many patients, the total cost of a ketamine protocol is comparable to what they have already spent on treatments that did not work.

Free 15-Minute Screening: Start Here

If cost is a concern, here is the best first step: schedule a free 15-minute screening consultation. This brief conversation allows us to assess whether you are likely to be a candidate for ketamine therapy before you commit to any financial obligation. There is no cost and no pressure — just an honest conversation about whether this treatment makes sense for your situation.

During the screening, we can also discuss financing options specific to your circumstances and help you understand the full financial picture before making any decisions. We want every patient to feel informed and comfortable, and that starts with transparency about costs.

Effective mental health treatment is an investment in your life, your relationships, and your future. We are here to help you find a way to make that investment work within your means.