Insurance Information
We are out-of-network providers. As an “Out-of-Network” provider, Couple and Family Psychologists does not participate directly with your health plan. We will provide you with a bill at the end of each month that you can submit to your carrier for reimbursement, and if you participate in a PPO or POS you may be covered for a substantial portion of our services.
Being out-of-network allows psychologists to recommend the number and length of sessions they believe will best serve the client. Insurance companies sometimes only cover specific types of therapies. Out-of-network psychologists have the liberty to choose the most suitable therapeutic modality for a client without insurance constraints.
When billing insurance, psychologists need to provide a diagnosis from the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) for the client. Some clients might not meet criteria for any particular diagnosis but still benefit from therapy. Others might not want a mental health diagnosis on their medical record due to potential stigma or other concerns from their work or insurance. When bypassing insurance, these issues are sidestepped.
Insurance paperwork is notorious for being time-consuming. By staying out-of-network, psychologists can spend more time with clients and less time navigating red tape. This ensures that the focus remains on therapeutic care rather than administrative chores.
Rates for services are clear and consistent for out-of-network psychologists. In contrast, the fees insurance companies are willing to reimburse can fluctuate, which can affect the stability of care for everyone.
This is also one of the reasons many therapists don’t take insurance – there is simply too much red tape to give clients the care they truly need. So how do therapists get paid?
Most in-network therapists are generalists. While they are qualified to treat common conditions such as anxiety, depression, and challenges in navigating significant life events, they often lack specialized training, credentialing, and experience with specific disorders. Much like how many of us seek out a Family Practitioner or a Primary Care Physician for routine issues like the flu, we generally seek out or are referred to specialists for more serious and complicated conditions such as cardiac or neurological conditions.
Most out-of-network therapists are specialists who have niche practices. If you have a specific condition or concern, it might be best to seek out and work with an out-of-network clinician or practice that has extensive training and experience in the area you are seeking help for.
While most therapists would like to help people in need, they also have to pay the bills. Typical costs of business for therapists include renting an office space, advertising (like monthly fees to list their services on websites like Psychology Today), and liability insurance, not to mention the student loans associated with having a high level of education.
If unable to keep an appointment, clients are asked to kindly give 24 hours notice, which allows the provider to offer the appointment time to other clients. If less than 24 hours notice is given, the client is responsible for paying the full session fee
Cost per session: