Understanding Your Insurance

Health insurance plans vary person to person based on the plan you have signed up for. Even with health insurance, you may still have some financial responsibility for your sessions. If you have a deductible that applies to behavioral/mental health appointments, you will need to meet that deductible by paying the full cost of each session until you have reached that amount. At that time, typically a copay or coinsurance kicks in where you pay a much smaller amount per session. If you do not have a deductible to meet, then you may have a small copay or your insurance may cover the entire cost. It is always best to check with your insurance directly either through your online portal or by calling.

High deductible plans are often cheaper monthly which is why you will be responsible for more at each appointment. Whereas you will pay more monthly for a lower deductible plan but not pay as much for each appointment. Each insurance plan dictates the cost of the session. Therefore, if REtherapy files claims with the insurance, I must follow what the insurance determines for cost and cannot provide any additional discounts to you. Prior to our first appointment together, I will verify your insurance and provide as much information as we can to you; however, I still strongly encourage all my clients to reach out to their insurance company directly to confirm their benefits.

 Consultation Call

I offer a free 15-minute consultation phone call to prospective clients. This is a great opportunity to interview me to determine if we would make a good fit! The consultation call is not a requirement but can be really helpful as you start this process.

Intake Documents

Once we have agreed to move forward with scheduling an initial session, REtherapy will send you intake documents to complete through a secure portal. The intake documents include:

·      A brief questionnaire of your history and what brings you to therapy now

·      Informed consent for psychotherapy

·      Notice of privacy practices

·      Consent for telehealth consultation

·      Practice policies

·      Credit/debit card information to keep on file

·      GAD-7 which is a brief assessment for anxiety

·      PHQ-9 which is a brief assessment for depression

 Virtual vs. In Office

REtherapy currently offers both virtual and in office appointments. You are not required to commit to one modality but rather have the flexibility to change it as needed. Be advised that many insurance companies began to cover virtual appointments as part of their response to COVID-19. While many insurance companies continue to cover it, not all do and some may stop. I encourage all clients to check with their insurance companies directly to ensure ongoing coverage for virtual sessions.

 Is it the right fit?

The therapeutic relationship is so essential to success in therapy. In the same way that you are not friends with every person you meet, you will not feel connected to every therapist you meet. It is okay to acknowledge if we are not the right fit or if you do not like my style, theory, or approach to treatment! I welcome both feedback and transparency. If we discover that we are not a good fit, I will work with you to try to identify other options.

Frequency

I typically recommend beginning therapy 1x/week which gives us an opportunity to build rapport and cadence for skill building. As symptoms begin to resolve and confidence in healthy coping grows, we can decrease the frequency. If symptoms worsen, I might recommend a higher level of care. Together we will determine what is needed to meet your overall goals.

Preparing for Sessions

Initially it can be hard to identify areas to focus on weekly in therapy. As a society, we are often busy and distracted with all of life’s obligations that we forget to take time out to reflect. I encourage my clients to keep a “therapy journal” and to build in daily reflection time to check in with self. Your daily reflection does not need to be incredibly time consuming; it could be as quick as 5 minutes! This serves as an opportunity to not only reflect on struggles and challenges but also to reflect on areas of gratitude and joy. This will help you to identify important areas to focus on during our time together.

  Practice Between Sessions

I know the last thing people want is more work to do between sessions. While I highly encourage some sort of practice between sessions, I also do my best to meet you where you are at. Since we are only seeing each other for 1 hour/week or 1 hour every other week, it can be challenging to really acquire the skills without applying them outside of session regularly. Together we will determine what feels manageable and appropriate to focus on/practice between sessions.

Good Faith Estimate & The No Surprises Act

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who 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, equipment, and hospital fees.

• Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. 

• If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. 

• Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. 

• For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.