Private Pay Benefits

Navigating Insurance: Understanding Your Options 

While using insurance to cover therapy costs might seem appealing, it's important to understand the potential limitations and how it can impact your therapeutic journey. 

Limitations of Using Insurance for Therapy 

Dictated Treatment: Insurance companies often significantly influence your therapy, including determining the number of sessions you are authorized for and the specific type of therapy deemed "necessary." This can limit the depth and duration of care you receive, potentially hindering your progress. 

Lack of Coverage for Specific Needs: Many insurance plans do not cover crucial areas like career coaching, financial therapy, or couples, relationship, and marriage counseling. These are often viewed as not being "medically necessary" despite their significant impact on overall well-being and life satisfaction. 

The "Medical Necessity" Requirement & Your Privacy: To utilize your insurance, a mental health diagnosis is typically required, and your sessions must be justified as "medically necessary" to treat that diagnosis. This information becomes part of your permanent medical record and may have implications for future insurance coverage or other areas of your life. 

Loss of Control Over Treatment: When using insurance, the therapy focus may be driven by what the insurance company deems reimbursable, rather than what you and I collaboratively determine is most beneficial for your unique needs and goals. 

Your Privacy Matters: Choosing to pay privately for therapy ensures greater confidentiality and control over your mental health records and treatment. 

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Health Savings Accounts (HSA) 

You can often utilize funds from your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for therapy services, providing a tax-advantaged way to invest in your well-being. Please check with your FSA or HSA provider for specific guidelines.  

Your Right to Transparency: The No Surprises Act & Good Faith Estimate 

Under the No Surprises Act, you have the right to receive a "Good Faith Estimate" explaining how much your medical care will cost.    

For Out-of-Network Coverage: 

While I am an out-of-network provider, I am committed to transparency regarding my fees. Upon request, I will provide you with a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of your therapy services. This estimate will be based on the information you provide during our initial consultation and the anticipated frequency and type of sessions. 

Important Considerations Regarding the Good Faith Estimate: 

The Good Faith Estimate is an estimate, and the actual cost of services may differ depending on the length and frequency of sessions and the course of treatment. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other health care provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.   

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.    

Superbill 

If your insurance plan has out-of-network benefits, I can provide you with a superbill, a detailed invoice you submit directly to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. This includes necessary information like service codes and diagnosis (if applicable). Reimbursement depends on your plan's specifics, so please verify your out-of-network coverage directly with your insurer. You pay my full fee at the time of service. There is no guarantee your session will be reimbursed by insurance. 

Cancellation Policy 

Your appointment time is specifically held for you. We require at least 48 hours' notice for cancellations or rescheduling requests to avoid a charge for the full session (fees). This policy helps ensure that I can best manage my schedule and offer timely care to all clients. I am committed to providing you with quality support on your path to a more fulfilling life. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions about my fees, services, or payment options.