Frequently Asked Questions
Contact me (email or call) for a consultation by phone. We can gauge if we are a ‘right fit’ for one another. Consultations are anywhere between 15-40 minutes in order to establish key facts and determine next steps.
For you to avoid a fee for the session cost, I require a 36-hour notice before canceling your session. Automated reminders are sent out 48-hours prior to session. Exceptions do apply; for instance, we all have emergencies or illnesses from time to time.
I am not a participating provider in any insurance network but can operate as an out-of-network provider.
However, HMO policies do not reimburse for outside services.
Most insurance policies reimburse a good portion of the fee for out-of-network mental health services. Before sessions start, you may want to call the telephone number on your insurance card listed for “Behavioral Health” and ask the following questions:
-Is there a deductible for out-of-network providers for my individual/family policy?
-What percentage of the psychotherapy cost is covered for out-of-network providers?
-Is there a cap on reimbursement for services? – on number of sessions per year?
-Is pre-authorization required?
When payment is made at the end of every session, I will provide you with a receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Some of the reasons I choose not to be paneled with insurance companies:
-Insurance companies require a “hard diagnosis” for each client, which can follow them for the rest of their life. This may impact their eligibility for future life insurance or particular employment.
-Insurance companies have defined regulations that can compromise the level of confidentiality I believe is crucial for successful therapy.
-I would like the client to experience long-lasting relief, which requires more frequent sessions than insurance companies are sometimes willing to support.
However, HMO policies do not reimburse for outside services.
Most insurance policies reimburse a good portion of the fee for out-of-network mental health services. Before sessions start, you may want to call the telephone number on your insurance card listed for “Behavioral Health” and ask the following questions:
-Is there a deductible for out-of-network providers for my individual/family policy?
-What percentage of the psychotherapy cost is covered for out-of-network providers?
-Is there a cap on reimbursement for services? – on number of sessions per year?
-Is pre-authorization required?
When payment is made at the end of every session, I will provide you with a receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Some of the reasons I choose not to be paneled with insurance companies:
-Insurance companies require a “hard diagnosis” for each client, which can follow them for the rest of their life. This may impact their eligibility for future life insurance or particular employment.
-Insurance companies have defined regulations that can compromise the level of confidentiality I believe is crucial for successful therapy.
-I would like the client to experience long-lasting relief, which requires more frequent sessions than insurance companies are sometimes willing to support.
Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, healthcare providers, and healthcare facilities are required to provide a Good Faith Estimate of standard charges for items and services to individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal healthcare program or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under this law, healthcare providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, and hospital fees.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call or call (800) 368-1019.
A Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service. The estimate is based on information known when the estimate was created.
The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or exceptional circumstances occur. Federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill if this happens.
There may be additional items or services the convening provider or convening facility recommends as part of the course of care that must be scheduled or requested separately and is not reflected in the good faith estimate.
The information provided in the good faith Estimate is only an estimate, and that actual items, services, or charges may differ from the Good Faith Estimate.
The Good Faith Estimate is not a contract. It does not require the uninsured (or self-pay) individual to obtain the items or services from any providers or facilities identified in Good Faith Estimate. You can dispute the bill if you are billed for more than this Good Faith Estimate. You may contact the health care provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can ask them to update the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill or ask if there is financial assistance available.
You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill. There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. You will have to pay a higher amount if the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. To learn more and get a form to start the process, go to www.cms.gov/nosurprises. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 368-1019.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under this law, healthcare providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, and hospital fees.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call or call (800) 368-1019.
DISCLAIMERS
A Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service. The estimate is based on information known when the estimate was created.
The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or exceptional circumstances occur. Federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill if this happens.
There may be additional items or services the convening provider or convening facility recommends as part of the course of care that must be scheduled or requested separately and is not reflected in the good faith estimate.
The information provided in the good faith Estimate is only an estimate, and that actual items, services, or charges may differ from the Good Faith Estimate.
The Good Faith Estimate is not a contract. It does not require the uninsured (or self-pay) individual to obtain the items or services from any providers or facilities identified in Good Faith Estimate. You can dispute the bill if you are billed for more than this Good Faith Estimate. You may contact the health care provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can ask them to update the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill or ask if there is financial assistance available.
You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill. There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. You will have to pay a higher amount if the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. To learn more and get a form to start the process, go to www.cms.gov/nosurprises. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 368-1019.