How do sliding scale therapy costs usually work

[xponentialshift]

I am looking for a therapist in my area, but my ideal choice isn't accepting new patients with insurance. There aren't any other GD experienced therapists in my network in the area...
My insurance will cover a portion of the cost out of network, but does that mean that I cannot use sliding scale payment methods? Or does sliding scale only apply to the portion that I have to cover out of pocket?
Thanks for any advice you can give!
-Shift

[Sydney_NYC]

Many health centers (like Callen-Lorde in Manhattan) offer a sliding scale (which I use) for those without insurance and have a low income (for cost of living in that area.) This is for both therapist and HRT (even prescriptions.) All that was required was a copy of my pay stub and just stated my rent and other expenses. I pay $60 for doctor's visit, my HRT prescriptions are $28/month and my lab work averages $110 (once every 3 months, then 6 months then yearly.)

If you can find LGBT health center in your area then that would be a good place to start. There is a directory of them in this pdf. Starting on page 11, some different centers are listed for different parts of the US. There is some great other stuff in there to that is worth looking at later for name changes, etc.

[xponentialshift]

Thanks for the PDF!
I actually have really good insurance (still covered under my mom's) and I live in CA (hurray for the mandate that insurance cover trans* expenses)...
Sadly the plan I am on is a self insured federal ERISA plan which bypasses the CA mandate and specifically excludes any sex/gender related medical costs.

So, unless I fond a loophole or a new law gets passed I'll be paying out of pocket for most stuff. And my income is very low for Marin County. I think my best option will be one of the support centers with a sliding scale that you suggested.
Luckily I can get cheap blood work done in Palo Alto by the new theranos company.