Insurance and Payment
for Therapy
Mental Health Insurance Coverage
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Payments and Invoices
Cancellation Policy
Mental Health Insurance Coverage
Because I am a licensed clinical psychologist, most psychotherapy services I provide are likely covered in full or in part by your health insurance plan. However, insurers typically reimburse for mental health care quite differently than they do for general medical care (e.g., not as a co-pay but rather a reimbursement on a percentage basis). Because of this difference, you may wish to contact your insurance provider and ask some very specific questions such as:
- Do I have mental health benefits?
- What is my annual deductible and has it been met?
- Is my mental health services deductible separate from the deductible covering physical health?
- How many psychotherapy sessions per calendar year does my plan cover?
- How much does my plan cover for an out-of-network provider?
- If coverage is expressed as a percentage, is that percentage based on the actual fee?
- If my coverage is a percentage based on "reasonable and customary fees," what is the maximum fee for a 50-minute individual psychotherapy session – service code 90806? This varies considerably among insurance companies (sometimes based on market research and sometimes arbitrarily low) and may cap the actual sum that you will be reimbursed.
Because I am a licensed clinical psychologist, most psychotherapy services I provide are covered under major medical health insurance plans. As an "out-of-network" provider, I collect fees directly from you, and can provide you with a statement that you file with an insurance claim for reimbursement. I can also provide your insurance company with any additional information about me that they need to process your claim. You will find that many health insurers provide very similar mental health reimbursements for in- and out-of-network providers.
Flexible Spending Accounts
If your company offers a medical flexible spending account (FSA), I strongly recommend that you consider using it to minimize your actual out-of-pocket cost. This kind of account allows you to use pre-tax dollars for medical deductibles and co-pays, including for mental health services such as psychotherapy. This can save you up to a third of your expenses depending on your tax bracket. Another benefit of using a flexible spending account is that you can file for reimbursement immediately, even before the plan is fully funded. Click on the link to this online article for more details. Talk to your human resources manager for full information on your company's particular plan.
Payment and Invoices
Payment is due at time of service. All major credit and debit cards are accepted, as well as personal check or cash. Credit and debit card payments are processed securely online through a trusted third-party scheduling and payment Client Portal. You may also log in to the Client Portal to view and download your paid invoices for insurance purposes, taxes, or personal record-keeping.
Cancellation Policy
To cancel or reschedule an appointment without charge, you must provide a minimum of 24 hours advance notice—you may cancel online in the Client Portal calendar or simply give me a call. If you miss your scheduled appointment without having provided the required 24-hour notice, you will be expected to pay the full cost of the appointment as booked, since that time was reserved for you and was not available to other clients.
Questions?
Please contact me for more detailed information or help in determining your benefits. I understand that this is probably a stressful time for you and am happy to do whatever I can to eliminate your financial concerns so that we can focus on what brought you to therapy.