Many insurance plans allow members to see any provider a member chooses and will pay some or all of that treatment. If your insurance plan does cover providers who are out-of-network, then the practice can complete the required documentation so that some or all of your payments are reimbursed.

Protect Yourself and Do the Research
If you are considering using out of network benefits, it is wise to first contact your insurance company and ask the following questions:

• Does my plan cover counseling sessions?
• Does my plan cover only individual counseling or will it also cover family or couples counseling?
• How many sessions does my plan cover in a year? How many sessions do I have left?
• Does my plan cover services to out-of-network mental health providers?
• What is the deductible I have to meet before coverage to an out-of-network provider kicks in?
• What is my copay or what percentage of treatment do I pay when seeing an out-of-network mental health provider?
• Is there a maximum amount per session the insurance will cover for an out-of-network provider?
• How much time do I have to file a claim for out-of-network services?
• Do I need pre-authorization or a referral from my PCP to see a counselor?
• If I need pre-authorization, do I need to call or does my counselor?
• What is the process to get reimbursed for out-of-network services?

Please be very clear about the last question. Each insurance company will have a slightly different process and it is vital for the practice to know what information your company will need and what form your company uses so that you can be given the proper documentation for your claim.

Getting Reimbursed
I will provide you with a detailed invoice (called a "superbill") after each session. It contains all the information that most insurance companies require. If your insurance company requires that some other form be filled out, please have that form available for the practice to complete. Please know specifically what your insurance company will need from you so that the practice can provide you with the adequate documentation that you need. Once you have your documentation, you can provide it to the insurance company so that it will reimburse you for your payments.

I will answer any questions you have about this process and support you in getting your claims paid if you have problems. Interacting with insurance companies can be confusing and there is no need to have an extra barrier in your life.

Should I Use My Insurance Benefits?
Be cautious in deciding to use your health plan to cover counseling. The unfortunate reality is that seeking mental health care through your insurance can sometimes have unplanned consequences. Insurance companies only cover care that is "medically necessary". This means, that they will typically only cover counseling for issues that have a recognized mental health diagnosis attached to them.

Your provider will be required to assign a diagnosis to you in order for you to get reimbursed for any counseling that you engage in. Furthermore, when submitting a claim to your health insurance, you permit your provider to provide the clinical information that the insurance company requires to substantiate the medical necessity of your care. Thus, your diagnosis and the supporting evidence for that diagnosis becomes part of your health record. In many cases, this can drastically affect your ability to get health or life insurance in the future. It could potentially impact other areas of your life that take your health record into account.

Of course, often cost is an issue and you may be in a situation that you need to use your health benefits to access counseling. All of this is not to say that you shouldn't use your health plan. Using health insurance may be the only way for you to get treatment or some of these drawbacks may not be a concern for you. Ultimately, you can look at the advantages and disadvantages of each option and make an informed decision about what will be best for you.

RETURN to "Cost" page.

Please note that we are transitioning to www.RadzomCounseling.com and now have additional counselors.