Fee-For-Service
If you have healthcare insurance, I am in-network with most plans from Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Medicare. If your insurer is not listed, but your healthcare plan entitles you to out-of-network benefits, my services should nonetheless be covered at the out-of-network rate. It is very important that you contact your insurance company before services begin in order to educate yourself about what your benefits include and exclude, as well as to make any necessary pre-authorizations that may be required. I am not responsible for educating you on the parameters of your healthcare plan; it is your responsibility to educate yourself about your own healthcare benefits prior to utilizing them.
If you use in-network benefits, your healthcare plan determines the fee. If you use out-of-network benefits, I set the fee, which may or may not fall within your healthcare plan's range of "allowable" rates. If the fee does not fall within the range, you may be responsible for paying the difference. My fee for the initial evaluation is $200, and my fee for ongoing psychotherapy sessions is $160.
In most cases, for both in-network and out-of-network arrangements, I submit claims on your behalf as a courtesy. I tend to submit claims in increments of six sessions. After your insurer processes the claim, I receive an Explanation of Payment that outlines what portion of the bill you are responsible for paying, and I use this information to generate your bill. Therefore, you should expect to receive a bill roughly every other month, and each bill will include approximately six sessions' worth of fees. Be advised that, in some special situations, you may instead be expected to pay the full fee at the close of every session and submit claims for reimbursement from your insurance company yourself, or I may continue to submit claims on your behalf, but may instead expect you to pay your required co-payment or co-insurance each week. Please be aware that you are responsible for payment in the event that your insurance company does not cover the service. Payments made by cash or personal check are accepted.
Sliding Scale
In the event that you do not have insurance, or have only in-network benefits and I am out-of-network for you, your session fee will be determined via sliding scale. These are the only two scenarios in which a sliding scale fee will be made available. If one of these situations applies, in order to qualify for a sliding scale fee each year, you must bring me your income tax return from the most recent year, with your total income clearly indicated (line 9 on Form 1040).
The appropriate sliding scale fee will then be determined by referencing the chart below:
GROSS ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME
$69,999 or less
$70,000 - $79,999
$80,000 - $89,999
$90,000 - $99,999
$100,000 or more
SLIDING SCALE
$80
$90
$100
$110
$120
In sliding scale situations, I will provide you with a bill every four sessions. Therefore, you should expect to receive a bill approximately once per month, and each bill will include four sessions' worth of fees. Please be aware that in some special cases, I may instead require you to pay your fee at the close of each session. Payments made by cash or personal check are accepted.
Missed Appointments
You are permitted a certain number of free cancellations each year depending upon your frequency of sessions. All other appointments must be rescheduled in order to avoid being charged a cancellation fee. Any appointments that are missed without prior cancellation will incur a full session fee charge. Please be aware that insurance companies do not cover canceled or missed sessions, so you will be solely responsible for the entirety of the bill in these cases.
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Please refer to the Attendance Policy for more information regarding canceled, missed, and rescheduled appointments.