Rates & Insurance

Rates

$175 per hour

I have a set number of reduced rate sessions from $125 and up. Please let me know if this would be more accessible to your needs and we can discuss a rate adjustment.

You might be able to get reimbursed for out-of-network therapy! Check here: mentaya.co/b/kaNiPT77dEqOUdE9ZlzE

Insurance

I am currently in network with Blue Cross of Idaho, Regence Blue Shield, Select Health and St. Luke’s Brightpath partners, Aetna, Harvard Pilgrim, United Health Care, and a few others under the Optum umbrella. 

Additionally, depending on your current health insurance provider or employee benefit plan, it may be possible for services to be reimbursed in full or in part. Please contact your provider to verify how your plan compensates you for psychotherapy services. I can provide you with a Superbill to submit for reimbursement from your provider. 

I have partnered with Mentaya to coordinate OON benefits, where you are reimbursed typically between 65-75% of the full rate.  If you would like to check your OON benefits and understand how you might be reimbursed, contact me and I will provide the link for verification. 

I’d recommend asking these questions to your insurance provider to help determine your out-of-network benefits:

• Does my health insurance plan include mental health benefits?
• Do I have a deductible? If so, what is it and have I met it yet?
• Does my plan limit how many sessions per calendar year I can have? If so, what is the limit?
• Do I need written approval from my primary care physician in order for services to be covered?
• What is the process for being reimbursed for out-of-pocket payments to your mental health provider?

Self Pay Vs. Insurance Comparison

Cost

Self pay: While out-of-pocket costs may seem high, these costs often outweigh the cons of using insurance.

Insurance: If you have coverage, it is often more cost effective to use your health insurance to pay for services. Whether you are self-employed or work for an employer, you effectively pay a lot of money to have health insurance and it may make sense to get the most out of your benefit package by using insurance for therapy. However, you may have a high deductible that must be met before your insurance company pays for counseling.

Diagnosis

Self pay: Diagnoses are often attached to some sort of stigma that could have consequences in your life (i.e. employment, over-identification, disagreements in diagnosis, misdiagnosis). In self pay, it is not mandatory to diagnose the client for them to receive treatment. Although, diagnosis can be provided if requested. If requested, it will be kept private between you and the therapist, unless a release of information has been signed. This information will only be shared with whom you have consented release for.

Insurance: In order for insurance to reimburse your treatment, you will receive a mental health diagnosis that goes in your permanent medical record. This diagnosis constitutes a “pre-existing condition” that may be disqualification from benefits in the future or may otherwise interfere with your coverage if you change plans. Once you have used health insurance for mental health care you will also have to disclose your treatment history if you apply for insurance and in certain other circumstances.

Privacy

Self pay: Your personal information is kept strictly confidential unless a specific release of information is signed by you (except in cases of harm to self and others). Therapists are not allowed to share information about your treatment with anyone unless they have written consent.

Insurance: There are many circumstances in which you might want to keep the fact that you are in treatment, as well as any information about that treatment, completely private between you and your therapist. In order to qualify for benefits you must surrender a level of confidentiality to the insurance company that would otherwise remain between you and your therapist.

The insurance company requires information about your most dysfunctional behavior in order to justify treatment. The therapist may be required to not only provide a diagnosis but treatment plan and progress notes. The information goes into a database, and the insurance company does not inform you about who has access to this information, how it is protected, and how information may limit your future insurability.

Choice of Therapist

Self pay: You choose and contract with your own therapist. You are free to choose a therapist based on your own preferences and needs. If you are not satisfied with one therapist you can choose another therapist or seek a second opinion at any time.

Insurance: Most insurance companies limit the choice of therapist. You are required to go to a therapist that is part of your network of providers, and the insurance company has a contract with that therapist. With HMO’s, no other providers are covered. If you are not satisfied with one therapist, you will usually need to get an authorization to seek a second opinion from another therapist on the insurance panel companies list.

Another thing to consider is being insured through your employer. Employers often change insurance companies to save money. You may have formed a bond with your therapist only to find out they are not a provider on your new plan.

Choice of Length and Type of Therapy

Self pay: You and the therapist together determine the length and type of treatment. You will discuss the appropriate treatment with your therapist and are active participants in the decision-making process. You are free to go to therapy as long as you and your therapist deem it necessary without outside interference.

Insurance: The insurance company determines the length and type of treatment. Often times, insurance companies will not cover more controversial yet effective treatment modalities such as hypnosis. If the treatment modality is approved, they tend to limit the sessions to 16 or less and often do not authorize the maximum amount. They encourage very brief therapy lasting only a few sessions.

Payment

I accept cash, check and all major credit cards as forms of payment. I also accept payment directly on my site via this page using the form below. Payment is due at the time of service. I offer a fixed number of sliding scale appointments.

Cancellation and Missed Appointments

Since the scheduling of an appointment involves the reservation of time set aside especially for you, a minimum of 24 hours notice is required for rescheduling or cancellation of an appointment. If for any reason a session is canceled less than 24 hours prior, a $60 fee will be charged. Please note that most insurance does not reimburse for missed sessions.

Any Other Questions

Please contact me for any additional questions you may have. I look forward to hearing from you!