Are you interested in getting an ESA letter to ensure that your pet can live with you in housing that’s usually non-pet-friendly? If so, you’ll need to ask your doctor for one or find a reliable telehealth resource that can prescribe you one. What’s more, it’s important to understand what the process looks like, how much it costs, and whether or not you’ll qualify. Plus, it helps to know the rules and laws surrounding emotional support animals.
The good news is that if you’re looking for answers, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll take you through how to ask doctors for ESA letters. Read on to learn more below.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
An emotional support animal is a unique companion animal. These animals are a step above pets because a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) will determine that an ESA is a type of medical treatment for your mental health condition.
For these reasons, ESAs are protected under federal laws and guidelines outlined by the Fair Housing Act (FHA). These laws allow you to live in non-pet-friendly housing with an ESA. What’s more, you’ll find that these laws prevent landlords from charging pet fees for emotional support animals.
It’s also important to note that emotional support animals are different from other types of support animals, like therapy animals or service dogs. This is because almost any animal can be an ESA. At the end of the day, an ESA just needs to be a well-behaved animal that’s an appropriate size for your living space.
What Is an ESA Letter?
An emotional support animal (ESA) letter is an important document that gives your pet protection from landlords under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Without this letter, you won’t be able to enjoy these benefits, or you may have to pay pet fees.
Emotional support animal letters are regulated at the state level, though, so there are some guidelines that need to be followed. ESA letters must be signed by an LMHP in the state, and in some states, an LMHP must maintain a professional relationship with you for at least 30 days. For these reasons, it’s always important to learn more about ESA laws in your state before you try to ask your doctor for an ESA.
ESA letters also need to include information about you, your condition, your ESA, and even some information about the LMHP’s license.
How to Ask Doctor for ESA Letter
If you’re ready to get an ESA letter, you’ll need to ask your doctor. Your doctor needs to be a licensed mental health professional in the state where you’ll live with an emotional support animal. If you have an LMHP already, you can simply ask them to write you an ESA letter.
There shouldn’t be an additional charge for this, and if your LMHP is covered under insurance, you don’t have to worry about any fees at all.
That said, if you don’t have an LMHP already, you’ll need to find one. The good news is that resources like US Service Animals can help you get an ESA letter in your state. This is because the organization can help you connect with an LMHP in your state via telehealth. You’ll need to schedule a call, discuss your condition, and then wait for your ESA letter approval.
However, if you do go this route, you will need to pay a fee. Thankfully, the fee is lower than paying out of pocket for most doctors.
Our Final Thoughts on How to Ask Doctor for ESA Letter
Learning how to ask a doctor for an ESA letter is essential if you want to get one for your pet. Without an ESA letter, you won’t be able to enjoy the benefits that come with having such a letter. Essentially, you won’t have any protections under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), and landlords can deny you housing or even charge pet fees.
Thankfully, getting an ESA letter has never been easier. You can always leverage US Service Animals to connect with an LMHP in your area via telehealth. However, if you have an LMHP you already trust, you can always ask them to write you an ESA letter during your next session.