i understand what you're saying, but beyond the initial call/fax to the insurance company - there is NOTHING else she has to do with them. i submit the claims, they wire the reimbursement payment directly to her banking account, and i pay the difference. (she doesn't even need to sign the claim form, as i have a copy with her signature that i use!)

i spent much of yesterday thinking about the sliding-scale, and have made the decision that i can't accept it. i'm completely uncomfortable with it, for one. two, i don't like how arbitrary it is. when we were doing the math, she was trying to figure out what i could afford and kept changing the fee based on my finances. i know she was being very nice and generous, but it would have been easy for me to say, "no, that's still too high. what about this amount instead?" i think it would be different if she told me that she had a special rate for students or something like that, something pre-determined that everyone paid (which i know is not the point of a "sliding" scale, but still). i also don't understand why the sliding-scale is being offered to me now, when in the past i was struggling a LOT more financially, paying a lot more for therapy*, and she knew all of this. furthermore, my partner also sees this therapist and isn't being offered the reduced rate. so that feels really weird/yucky to me, and complicates the issue.

*the first year, i spent almost $14,000

back to the SCA - i really just don't understand why she'd say no, then yes, then maybe. it's very confusing, and makes me feel like i can't trust her. i keep thinking i should call her to schedule an appointment to talk to her about this, but i don't want to rush the natural decision-making process. plus, to spend another $150 on talking about this doesn't seem practical. but it's all really bothering me. ugh.