Payment and Insurance

Why Fee-For-Service?

There are several reasons I offer private pay, or self pay, services:

• It allows me to focus on providing top-quality help to my clients. By declining the intrusive requirements of managed care I avoid compromising my client's confidentiality and/or our best judgment about your treatment.
• We must justify your therapy as necessary to your insurance company by assigning a mental health diagnosis. Paying privately allows therapy for the normal problems and transitions of everyday life.
• Filing insurance claims requires the disclosure of private information to the insurance company. State and federal law covers legal handling of this data. Much of it is stored electronically, where security is a real concern. Paying privately puts you in control of your information.
• Insurance companies may decide the frequency and duration of therapy. This is understandable because they are paying for the service. When you pay for the service, you decide.

Reduced Fee

I'm committed to making my services as accessible as possible. If you really want to work with me and cost is keeping that from happening, let's discuss it. In cases where you're living on a tight budget and insurance or other means of reimbursement won't cover your visits, I have a limited number of openings that I am able to offer at a reduced fee. Call me to discuss this further.

Insurance

I am considered an out-of-network provider in terms of your insurance coverage. I can give you a receipt that you can use to request reimbursement.

You may want to check on the details of your coverage to decide what's best for you. As a courtesy to you, here are some good questions to start with (there's usually a phone number to call on the back of your card):

• Do I have mental/behavioral health insurance benefits?
• What is my deductible and how much of it has been met?
• How many sessions per year does my plan cover?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session with an out-of-network provider who is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist?
• Is a referral from my primary care physician required?

Health Savings, Flexible Spending, and Similar Accounts

You may also qualify for reimbursement under another employee benefit plan, such as a healthcare savings account or medical flex spending account. Reimbursement from a health care account often has fewer restrictions and potential negatives. Call to determine your benefits and reimbursement request procedures.