(Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Anthem HIP, Medicare are accepted)
Using insurance is not always the best option, even if you have it. I understand many who buy insurance want to get the benefits of what they purchased. However, there are some downsides you might not know about.
Using your Health Savings Account is a great alternative to using insurance and will keep your information private at the same time, as well as avoiding common insurance hassels. A Health Savings Account can save you up to 35%.
Think about this:
- Insurance limits the number of sessions
Often, insurance will pay for a limited number of sessions. When you have exhausted a certain number of sessions (depending on the insurance company, diagnosis, and so on) they may not cover future sessions. This interferes with the ability for you to get quality therapy.
- Insurance waives your right to your privacy
In order for you to use your insurance, your Therapist must tell your insurance company your diagnosis and other personal information. On the surface, this does not seem like a big deal. However, this information will stick with you as time goes on. This could raise your insurance rates or even cause an insurance company to deny you. If you purchase insurance out of pocket sometime in the future, (lets say you start your own business) you MUST disclose any previous treatment during the application process.
- Insurance may limit your choice of Therapist
Only certain Therapist take a particular insurance. Therefore, you could very well not get the best therapy available.
- You still have to pay your deductible
In spite of having insurance, you still have to pay your deductible, which may be $500, $1000 or more
Volunteers in Psychotheapy discusses the problems with insurance and privacy.
Lets say that you still want to use the insurance that you have paid for
I take Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Hip and Medicare. If you have a different type of insurance that you want to use, we can bill your insurance "out of network," which means that I will ask that you pay for your sessions upfront and then your insurance company will reimburse you via their fee schedule at a later date. I want you to realize that they will likely reimburse you at a lesser rate than the cost of therapy. Since this varies with each insurance company, talk with me and I will be able to give you an accurate figure.
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