Rates & Insurance

Insurance

Depending on your current health insurance provider or employee benefit plan, it is possible for services to be covered in full or in part. Please contact your provider to verify how your plan compensates you for psychotherapy services.

I’d recommend asking these questions to your insurance provider to help determine your benefits:

• Does my health insurance plan include mental health benefits?
• Do I have a deductible? If so, what is it and have I met it yet?
• Does my plan limit how many sessions per calendar year I can have? If so, what is the limit?
• Do I need written approval from my primary care physician in order for services to be covered?

Accepted insurances:  BCBS, Highmark, Aetna, PEIA UMR, Peak Health, The Health Plan.

Payment

I accept cash, check and all major credit cards as forms of payment.

Cancellation Policy

If you are unable to attend a session, please make sure you cancel at least 24 hours beforehand. Otherwise, you will be charged a $25 fee.

Self pay rates:

Advantages of Self Pay

Choice: Clients who wish to stay in network may not always find a provider with whom they are comfortable, or who has experience dealing with the types of issues the client wishes to address in therapy. When you are self-pay, you get to choose!

Focus on the client: Self-pay promotes a focus on your health and strengths rather than just on what’s wrong –insurance companies require that we give you a “mental illness diagnosis,” and this diagnosis is required to be disclosed on any subsequent insurance policies for which you may apply, including life insurance, and can prevent you from being able to obtain them.

Flexibility: Just as insurance puts restrictions on therapists, it has, up to now, set restrictions for clients as well. When you pay for your own therapy, you decide how often and how long you need to go and when you’re finished. When you use your insurance, an administrator may read your progress notes and decide when you stop. Insurance companies can restrict reimbursements on certain kinds of treatment, such as online therapy, group therapy or couples counseling.

Privacy: When clients use insurance, therapists must attach a diagnosis to release insurance benefits. This diagnosis then becomes part of the client’s permanent medical record. For clients who wish to maintain their privacy and are uncomfortable with the number of people who have access to their medical record, they may opt to self-pay. Paying out of pocket means that therapists are not required to assign a mental health diagnosis or share medical information with anyone.

Eliminates surprises from billing: You’ll know up front what you’re responsible for and there are no guessing games regarding coverage, co-pays, and deductibles.