How much will it cost?? . . .

Cost is an important consideration. The fee is set based on a number of considerations including market rate, cost of providing good service in a comfortable environment, and the value provided to clients. The fee is competitive in Chicago and will be covered in the intial paperwork and discussed prior to the first session.

Providers in the practice are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Medicare, and the Northwestern Student Aetna Plan. For those enrolled in one of these insurance programs, patient fee responsibility will be based on your insruance coverage. See more below.

Do you accept insurance?. . .

Providers in the practice are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Medicare, and the Northwestern Student Aetna Plan. If you have Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO you will only pay the agreed upon co-payment/co-insurance once you have met any deductable. If you have Medicare Part B my services will be covered after co-payment based on the Medicare Part B plan and you may be able to use supplemental coverage as well. For those with Northewestern Aetna you will only pay the agreed co-payment once you have met any deductible.

If you have other insurance through your work, school, or the insurance exchange our services are often eligible for reimbursement under the plans out-of-network benefits. Out-of-network benefits vary depending on plans but typically cover some percentage of the fee after you have reached the deductible.

Is it complicated to file for out-of-network benefits?. . .

Many clients have used out-of-network benefits. The process of seeking reimbursement is made simple with clear and reliable documentation from the practice. You will pay for services in full and will be reimbursed directly by your insurance provider. You will recieve a single form on a monthly basis that you can file directly with your insurance for reimbursement.

I recommend that you make initial contact with your insurance company prior to our first appointment to determine if you have out-of-network benefits, how to file, and what percentage will be coevered.

Questions to ask your insurance about out-of-network benefits:

1. What is the reimbursement rate for out-of-network outpatient mental health services?
2. Do I have to meet a deductible? Is there an out of pocket max?
3. Is there a yearly cap on reimbursement?
4. What information do they require from you and from the provider to approve reimbursement?

What are the options for payment? . . .

Cash, check, or credit card payments are accepted at time of service. You will need to pay in full for sessions at the time of service unless you are using in-network insurance benefits.

Why are your services not in network for most insurance?. . .

There are a few reasons:
1) I am in the process of evaluating and applying for in-network participation with a select group of insurance plans. If I elect and am accepted I will become an in-network provider in the future.

2) Privacy and choice are very important to me. Insurance companies benefit consumers by using their large user base as leverage to negotiate lower costs for medical and mental health services. The greatest value of insurance is that it increases access to treatment for those who may otherwise be unable to afford it. However, by their nature insurance companies generally require their customers to allow certain access to information or input into their treatment planning (frequency or duration of sessions).

Whether your provider is in-network or out-of-network, insurance companies require a treatment provider to bill for a specific diagnosis. In many cases, a diagnosis is appropriate but for those seeking support with typical life stressors or recent life changes it may result in a premature or inaccurate diagnosis that becomes part of your permanent medical record. Insurance companies are also increasingly incentivizing their providers to participate in electronic health information exchanges (HIE). If enrolled, the diagnosis along with information about length and dates of sessions could become part of a healthcare information database accessible to other health professionals. I want to refer you to privacyrights.org to learn more about your rights regarding your medical and mental health information.

Information can be accessed in the future by employers if you or your child is seeking a job that requires you to submit to a comprehensive background check. This is true for jobs that require security clearance or involve responsibility for the well-being of the public (such as pilot or government contracting). It can also be used for determining individual health insurance rates and life insurance rates.

Many insurance companies place a cap on the number sessions of counseling that their customers can receive from in-network providers. If you and I were to agree to continue beyond the approved limit it would require petitioning the company and providing justification to continue benefits. I prefer that treatment decisions are made collaboratively by the two of us. I would be happy to answer any additional questions you have about insurance benefits.

Would I consider joining insurance networks in the future?. . .

There are insurance companies who offer better protections and increased choice for their customers. I am open to exploring or pursuing becoming an in-network provider and would inform you ahead of time of any changes in my business practice. If I were to become an in-network provider for you insurance company I would be required to honor the fee/co-payment policies of your network.

What can I expect at the first session?. . .

See Getting Started and What to Expect at first session.