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 high quality service in a comfortable environment, and the potential value to clients. The fee for service rate is $300 for the initial evaluation and $250 for on-going 55 minute sessions. This rate is competitive for psychotherpay services in the Chicago area.

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 insurance 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-pay amount once you have met any deductable. If you have Medicare Part B you will only pay the established co-pay after meeting the deductible. Medicare patients can also utilize supplemental health insurance to cover the co-pay. 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 health insurance exchange our services are often eligible for reimbursement under the plan's 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 the fee for service in full at the time of your appointment. The percentage covered by your out of network benefits will be reimbursed to you by the insurance company.

We recommend that you make initial contact with your insurance company prior to the first appointment to determine the out-of-network benefits, how to file for reimbursement, and what percentage will be coevered after meeting the deductible.

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 after which services will be covered at 100%?
  3. Is there a yearly cap on reimbursement?
  4. What information do you require 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. You will be required to put a debit or credit card on file to cover all deductible, co-pays, or missed appointment fees.

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.