Text Box: Text Box: Paying for Therapy: There are a number of ways to pay for therapy sessions. Listed below are the various payment options and some frequently asked questions which will help explain the benefits of paying for services outside of the insurance system and the insurance claims process. Payment Options: 1. Sessions can be paid out of pocket to avoid the complexity of the insurance system and to maintain maximum medical record security. I accept cash, checks, MasterCard, Visa and Discover cards. 2. I do accept payment from the following insurance companies: Blue Cross and Blue Shield Tri Care Humana/LifeSync 3. Many insurance companies pay “out of network” benefits. In those cases the session fee would be charged, an invoice would be provided which could be submitted to the insurance company for reimbursement Please call me if you have any questions regarding the payment process for therapy. Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Payment My insurance policy has mental health coverage. What do I need to do to use these benefits? First, you’ll want to find out if the therapist you wish to see is an “in network” provider. The insurance company can help you determine this, though you should also check that the therapist is accepting new patients from your particular insurer. Also, some insurance companies require that you get pre-authorization before seeing the therapist for the first time. Your insurance company can tell you how many you visits you are allowed and what your out-of-pocket costs will be. I found a therapist who comes highly recommended but she is not a provider for my insurance. Can I still get insurance to pay the cost of seeing her? Many companies will pay a percentage of the cost for seeing an “out of network” provider. Typically, in this situation, you pay the therapist their full fee at the time of service. You then file the claim to your insurance company who sends the reimbursement directly to you. If you choose this option, ask your therapist for a receipt that contains the required information to file for reimbursement. I’ve heard that some people choose NOT to use their insurance. What are the advantages to paying for therapy out-of-pocket? There are many reasons why people choose to pay for therapy out-of-pocket. The three main reasons are as follows: 1. When you pay for therapy yourself, you maintain control and freedom of choice regarding your health care. You make your own decisions regarding frequency of appointments, number of sessions, length of sessions, etc. This freedom allows you and your therapist to develop an approach that is tailored to your wants and needs. Unlike therapy that is paid for by an insurance company, when you pay for therapy yourself, your therapist is NOT required to give you a mental health diagnosis or prove that treatment is a “medical necessity”. Thus, you can avoid any associated stigma that may arise from such a diagnosis and it does not become part of your medical record. Your privacy is compromised when using insurance to pay for therapy. The therapist must disclose information regarding your case to your insurance company. With the increased use of computerized databases to store information and internet technology to process claims, many are uncomfortable with the number of people who can (or could) have access to their information. Additionally, your information may be stored in the Medical Information Bureau (MIB) and may be used to deny or limit your insurance coverage.