Insurance

  • Optum/ United healthcare
  • Optima
  • Anthem
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Cigna
  • Tricare/ In Network Provider
  • Aetna
  • Medicaid
  • Medicare

Insurance coverage for Family and Couples Therapy

To receive insurance coverage for couples or family therapy, one partner is typically designated as the ‘identified patient.’ This partner will receive a mental health diagnosis, and based on the diagnosis, the insurance will authorize conjoint treatment (Family Therapy) for both the identified patient and their partner.

Payments and Insurance

Co-pays/deductibles are billed at the end of each session.

We accept all major credit cards

Private Pay Offer the Benefit of Privacy

You can choose to self-pay or use insurance for payment.

Insurance companies review your files throughout the counseling sessions. This includes tasks such as payment authorization, progress tracking, and auditing psychotherapy practices.

There are exceptions, such as cases involving harm to oneself, others, elders, and children. I am a mandated reporter, as outlined in the policy, and we will discuss this during the initial session.

Further Protection of Private Pay

Utilizing your health insurance for mental health care involves providing a diagnosis. This diagnosis may be considered a ‘pre-existing condition,’ which could lead to disqualification from future benefits or potential interference with your coverage if you change plans. Additionally, your treatment history will be disclosed in your life insurance application and could also impact your military service.

Good Faith Estimate

Good Faith Estimate for Health Care Items and Services” Under the No Surprises Ac

The No Surprises Act was enacted in 2020 with the goal of protecting patients from unexpected bills for healthcare services, including charges for out-of-network emergency care. While many of its provisions do not directly apply to mental health providers, the American Psychological Association (APA) holds the opinion, as summarized in this article: ‘Starting January 1, 2022, psychologists and other mental health care providers will be legally required to provide uninsured and self-pay patients with a good faith cost estimate for services when scheduling care or when the patient requests an estimate.

Here are some key features of the ‘good faith estimate’ disclosure requirements, as discussed in the APA’s article:

New billing disclosure requirements took effect in 2022:

  • The disclosure requirements apply to all healthcare providers, including mental health providers who treat self-pay and/or uninsured patients.
  • Providers must inquire about insurance coverage, including whether the patient intends to submit claims to insurance.
  • Providers must inform all self-pay and uninsured patients that a good faith estimate of charges is available.
  • A good faith estimate of expected charges must be provided to the patient within specified time frames (e.g., for services scheduled at least 3 days prior to the appointment date, no later than 1 business day after the date of scheduling).
  • The estimate is not binding. However, patients may challenge a bill if the charges substantially exceed the estimated amount.
  • If there are changes to the information in the good faith estimate, a new estimate should be provided.
  • The estimate can include anticipated charges for recurring services expected to be provided within the next 12 months (e.g., 10-20 psychotherapy sessions). If treatment continues beyond 12 months, the provider must provide the patient with a new estimate.
  • These disclosure requirements apply to both existing and new patients.