Quote:
Originally Posted by guilloche
I don't know if it will help, but have you tried calling the insurance company? Personally, I'd keep a list of all the therapists that are turning you away (maybe with date/time that you contacted them), and call up the insurance company and explain what's happening.
It seems really unfair that all the in-network providers are unwilling to take new clients, which could force you out of network, which has less reimbursement (making the insurance kind of pointless).
I don't know that they can do anything, but you might want to ask:
- Can they recommend any in-network providers that are accepting clients near you (they may genuinely not know, but it's good to ask)
- Do they have any rules around providers accepting clients? Maybe I'm just mean, but I'd want to report these Ts. They're taking up space on the provider list and getting the benefits of "advertising" with the insurance company, but not fulfilling their part of the bargain. It doesn't do anybody any good if your insurance company has a list of 100 therapists in-network, but not one of them is taking new clients.
There is something that feels kind of unethical to me about this. It feels like, if a T doesn't like the reimbursement rates, they should not sign up to work with that insurance company. I'm sure this is a bad idea, but if I were in your shoes, part of me would want to sneak in to see a T, acting as if I didn't have insurance, or saying something like, "well, you're not on my insurance, so I'll just file out of network" (without telling them the company), and then after a couple months, saying "oh look at that! I didn't realize you ARE in-network after all! What great news! Guess I WILL be using my insurance!"
It sucks and is deceptive, but it's also deceptive to list yourself with an insurance company and then refuse to take people from that company, imho.
Good luck Rouge, and hang in there. I'm really sorry that it's so tough. Sadly, it's hard for a lot of us to find a good, competent therapist that we click with and that we can afford. I hope you find somebody soon...
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I found all of the therapists who've turned me away by calling my insurance provider a few weeks ago and asking for a list of in network providers who are currently accepting patients.
I took your advice and gave the names of the providers who've turned me away to my insurance company today. The representative I spoke with said that what the therapists are doing is wrong.
I've expanded my search for therapists to include a large near by city and am really hoping that I'll find someone because I feel like I'm in crisis because I can't seem to find the help I need.