Insurance vs Reduced Rate
What if I cannot afford your private pay rate?
Therapy has become increasingly expensive – just like everything else. And many people simply cannot afford this additional expense. In effort to make therapy more accessible, I offer two options:
Reduced Rate. A reduced rate is available for those with financial need. If you would like to apply for a reduced rate, please let me know during our initial consultation and I will include the application as part of your intake paperwork.
Insurance. I also accept many insurance plans. Currently, I use Headway to process all insurance claims. If you would like to use your insurance, please let me know during our initial consultation and I will send an invitation, through Headway, to upload the necessary documentation.
Insurance can help alleviate some of the cost of therapy. However, as a corporate entity, insurance companies prioritize profits over care. When considering the use of insurance, I hope you will consider the following:
Privacy and Confidentiality Concerns. Your diagnosis and treatment become part of your medical record, and your insurance company will have access to your record. I have no control over which entities will have access to your medical record in the future. Personal privacy can be easily compromised, and our personal information can be exploited or weaponized. If you are concerned about personal privacy, please consider the use of medical insurance carefully.
Restrictions and Limitations. Insurance companies often impose restrictions that limit the number and length of therapy sessions.
Required Diagnosis. Authorization of coverage and justification for services is often dependent upon having a formal mental health diagnosis.
Pros.
If you meet criteria for a mental health diagnosis, you may have greater access to treatment and support.
A diagnosis can offer some clarity about symptoms.
Cons.
Over-medicalization and pathologization of the human experience (including our natural responses to pain and suffering) is a real problem. It can lead to the over-simplification of complex challenges. In addition, the impact of societal, cultural and familial systems is often minimized, which can contribute to stigmatization of the individual.
And there are questions regarding the validity and ethical framework of the DSM-5 (our diagnostic Bible for mental illness). Some cite the nondisclosure of financial conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical industry as highly problematic (Davis, et al, 2023). Another growing concern is that mental health, as conceptualized through a primarily “Western” world view, discounts (or worse pathologizes) cultural differences.
Another thing to consider is diagnostic variability. Diagnosis can vary greatly from one therapist to another.
As you can see, I have concerns about the influence of health insurance companies regarding mental health care. Quite honestly, I hate that this is the water we swim in – but here we are.
I also recognize that the struggle to afford care is real, which is why I decided to partner with Headway and accept insurance. Please know that I will support your decision to use health insurance and do what is right and necessary for your mental health.
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References / Further Reading
Boyd, E. & Bero, L. (2000). Assessing faculty financial relationships with industry. JAMA, 284, 2209–2214.
Davis, L., Diianni, A., Drumheller, S., et al. (2023). Undisclosed financial conflicts of interest in DSM-5-TR: cross sectional analysis. BMJ, 384, e076902.
Cosgrove L, D'Ambrozio G, Herrawi F, Freeman M and Shaughnessy A (2023) Why psychiatry needs an honest dose of gentle medicine. Front. Psychiatry 14:1167910. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1167910\
Melander, H., Ahlqvist-Rastad, I., Meijer, G., et al. (2003). Evidence b(i)ased medicine – selective reporting from studies sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. BMJ, 326, 1171–1173.Mullan, J. (2023). Decolonizing therapy: oppression, historical trauma, and politicizing your practice. W. W. Norton