Telephone and Video Session Fee is $160. Payment is due at the start of each session, and acceptable means of payment include most major credit cards and Venmo. If you are in financial crisis, please talk with me about the availability of scholarship rates. I am also happy to provide referrals to other clinicians.
All sessions are currently conducted via HIPAA-compliant video or telephone sessions.
Insurance:
I do not accept insurance for several reasons:
- Mental Health Diagnosis: To use your medical insurance, you must be given a psychiatric mental health disorder diagnosis which will now be listed on your medical records. A psychiatric diagnosis can negatively impact you and may cause problems later when you might be asked “Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental illness?” on a job application, or a security clearance application, or applying for health insurance, life insurance, or disability insurance. It can also lead to increased deductibles and higher copays.
- Control of Treatment: If you use your insurance, you are often restricted to seeing providers on the insurance company’s list, many of whom have long wait lists. Additionally, insurance will often dictate your number of sessions and even what specifically can be treated. By not utilizing your insurance, you and your therapist can make these decisions together, based upon your needs. Paying “out of pocket” allows you to choose the clinician who you believe is the most competent to treat you.
- Interruptions to Treatment: When visits are preauthorized by insurance companies, a limited number of sessions are generally approved. When these sessions have been used, your therapist must justify the need for continued treatment and this process can lead to an interruption in your sessions. In addition, there are times when sessions are not authorized—leading to unexpected out-of-pocket expenses for you or an end to the treatment—even if goals have not been met.
- Decreased Confidentiality: Your insurance may request your entire medical record, or details about the counseling sessions.
- Your Sessions Become Part of Your Permanent Medical Record: You lose control of your information, who accesses it, and how it will be used. Paying “out-of-pocket” reduces this liability as no one will have access to your records unless required by law.
How to Determine If Your Insurance Will Reimburse You For Outpatient Sessions:
If your insurance company covers therapy, you can file a claim with them for reimbursement. As I am not a party to the contract you have with your insurance company, I cannot guarantee that you will get any compensation.
To determine if your insurance will cover therapy sessions, you can look up the information in your insurance benefits manual, investigate online, or call the company directly via the customer support contact information that should be printed on your insurance card. If your policy does cover outpatient therapy, ask for a claim form or print one from their website.
Upon request, I will provide you with a monthly super-bill that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
- Please be aware that the insurance company will require me to provide a psychiatric diagnosis on the super-bill.
Three Steps for Filing an Insurance Claim:
- Complete your portion of the insurance company claim form.
- Obtain a super-bill for your therapy sessions and attach it to the form.
- Mail directly to your insurance company.