In order for you to make an informed choice, please consider the information below. Accessing your insurance mental health benefits has pros and cons. Do not hesitate to bring any questions or concerns to my attention.
Lack of Confidentiality
All managed care plans use case managers. If you access therapy through your managed care plan (“Plan”), I must disclose significant information about you and your treatment. Neither you nor your company have a single case manager; multiple people will have access to your information. This information is used by the Plan to determine whether therapy is “medically necessary” (in other words, will they reimburse at all for the service and, if so, how much). Many Plans have hired managed health care companies to make these decisions. So, to use your health insurance, information must go to both the managed care company and the insurer itself.
You give me consent to release the information to the Plan. That is where the control ends. Both purposeful and accidental disclosure of mental health information happens all too frequently. Once any of your information leaves the therapist’s office, there is no guarantee that it will be kept confidential.
Difficulty accessing providers
Provider lists are not always up to date. Advocate for yourself! When you call someone on the list, if they are not accepting new clients, ask if there is a waiting list and how long it is. Also, double check that the provide4r is still in the insurance network and their fees.
Difficulty getting treatment authorized
Rules and laws regularly change. Some plans still require and authorization for outpatient mental health services. Almost all require preauthorization for inpatient (drug rehab, for example). Ask! No surprises with money is important.
Misdiagnosing or misrepresenting to get treatment authorized
All insurance plans require a diagnosis in order to provide payment to a therapist. Misrepresenting a client’s mental health issues is unethical and illegal. Some Plans will not pay on certain diagnoses. Some Plans will not cover marriage counseling/therapy. Some do not cover family therapy. Some define family therapy as a minor child being present. Thus, a client will have to pay out of pocket for these services as it is unethical and illegal to claim individual therapy when that is not what occurred. Again, ask the provider!
Only You Can Decide
Please take the time to consider these points. Bring any questions or concerns and we will discuss them.
I realize that mental health treatment is not affordable for many without the aid of their insurance. If you must use your insurance to afford treatment, then we will work together to gain authorization and payments for your treatment. Bear in mind that, regardless of what the insurance company says or does, you are ultimately responsible for the cost of your treatment.
If you would rather not use your insurance but cannot afford the full fee, talk to me. I am willing to discuss a realistic reduction in fees in order to make the process easier on both you and me. Not using your insurance has two very important benefits: no diagnosis needs to be made, and your personal health information does not leave my office for the sake of authorization/payment of treatment.
Fees and Networks
Individual, family, or couple's sessions are $150; groups (when running) are $75 per member per session. I also charge an annual fee of $20 to offset the billing platform costs. Currently I am in-network with CIGNA (PPO and EAP plans), United Health Care (UHC), Curative, Carebridge EAP, HMS EAP, CCA EAP, TPN Match, All1Health, and ComPsych EAP. To access out of network benefits, you pay the full fee and receive a receipt to submit to your Plan. If you are paying out-of-pocket (out of an insurance network or I am not billing your insurance) then the $20 annual fee does not apply. Additionally, case management time (letter writing, speaking with other providers, attorneys, etc.) are subject to the $150 per hour fee, assessed on a 1/4 hour time frame.
revised 22 October 2026
FAMILY MATTERS THERAPY
