[luvyrself]

I have paid out of pocket for psychiatrists who don’t really give much more time than the inadequate 15 mins those covered by ins give. I really need more than the 15 mins. Please tell how much time u get and how your pdoc is covered: out of pocket or what kind of insurance. I have had such bad luck w meds changes that I am thinking of going out of state to a university for a second opinion. Thank you so much for yr time.

[Guiness187055]

I get 30minutes for $200 cash. $400 intake fee. He does not take insurance and is fantastic. I can call his cell phone whenever I need to.

[yellow_fleurs]

My psychiatrist takes insurance, but he works at a clinic that also trains residents. So, I get to see the resident for the first 15 min or so and then see the resident and the main psychiatrist. Some of the time I am sitting alone while they discuss things, but overall it feels thorough and I don't feel rushed. This is more common in clinics associated with university/teaching hospitals I think.

I don't know if my psychiatrist of 13+ years takes someone's insurance, but he is not in network for mine, and never has been. I do, however, have out of network benefits so I don't pay 100%. My psychiatrist is an older gentleman and gives his patients, including me, at least 20 minutes. It is even stated on the appointment cards, and from my experience I have always gotten a full 20 mins. When I've shown up quite unwell, he has on occasion likely given me 30 mins. At times of crisis, he has sometimes given me emergency double sessions. He always reserves a double session slot for emergency crisis appointments. Those have surely prevented a number of psychiatric hospitalizations.

He has reduced his patient load over the years. He doesn't wish to retire, but doesn't want hectic days. Given this, he can and does see his long-time patients more, if needed, than most psychiatrists can/do who want maximum money making within each hour. My psychiatrist is one of the most wonderful men I know. I have a great affection for him.

To offset the cost of an out of network psychiatrist, I make sure my therapists and other doctors are in network.

[Crook32]

My pdoc takes insurance and he is the best. I have been seeing him weekly for about 3 years now because I hit a really rough patch. I can call or text his cell whenever I need to. Which is good because one time I had serotonin syndrome and didn’t know it. Appointments are supposed to be 20 minutes but mine are almost always 30-60 minutes since I am usually the last patient of the day. He is the best pdoc ever and I will be very sad when he retires. I probably have 10 more years before that happens.

[wiretwister]

I have the same pdoc for the past 6+ years , he usually gives me 15 - 30 minutes depending on my condition ... I do have insurance ... he has resently started a recovery clinic ... I moved from his old pratice to the new one ... as best as I can find out I am the only one to do so ... strange to set in a waiting room with recovering addicts ... I really think because of my staying he gives me more time and better access ... he always responds to my messages with in a few hours ... once with in an hour ... he also allows me quite a bit of say in my meds ... I feel very lucky to have him ...

It breaks my heart when I hear such horror stories about so many pdoc's ... I just wish every pdoc could understand how much effect they have on our mental health ... and not just seeing it as a job ...

as always in love ... Tigger

[scatterbrained04]

I pay cash for my pdoc. My appointments are generally 30 minutes.

[Unrigged64072835]

I have Medicare and my options here are very limited. I’m seeing my pnurse for 20 min max, no more. I had 1 hour for intake. Any more and I have to make another appointment. This is at a community mental health clinic.

I could go back to the base hospital if they’re taking retirees, but last time it was only residents and they even didn’t have a clue that I was bipolar.

[Wild Coyote]

My H's pdoc is available for meds only. Private practice. Cash only. $60.00 for 20 min.

My pdoc is my doctor and my therapist. Private practice. She takes insurance. 50-60 minutes. $120.00/hr. is her total fee.

Best wishes,

WC

[BeyondtheRainbow]

My pdoc takes pretty much all insurance/Medicad/Medicare I usually spend 75 minutes, plus or minus 15, with her. She does some therapy (although I have a regular therapist too and she requires this) in that session and the rest is the usual med check stuff. I can email and usually get a response; if I call I can leave a message but may or may not get a call back depending on the issue. She is always booked and emergency appointments happen only with extremely rare situations.

I see her at a huge teaching hospital which is why so many insurances are accepted. She is an attending and I've been her patient longer than she's been at the teaching hospital. She believes in giving people what she thinks they need and that means sometimes you wait a while for her but you know you'll get the same time given to you also. She only sees patients part-time and is administration the rest. I think that she mostly sees patients like me who have seen her for a very long time at this point; she hasn't taken new patients in years.

It's a wonderful set-up and I know how fortunate I am. I know when she retires it will change and be really hard to adjust to shorter visits that won't allow me to say "remember how awful things were when ________ happened?" and have her know what I mean.

My pdoc takes insurance. He works at the community health center which is for low-income folks so the doctors don't put much effort into their patients and try to get out of there ASAP. Appointments are typically 5-10 minutes.

[Crook32]

Not to derail the conversation but I recently looked around just to see what pdocs cost in the area without insurance and I was floored. One even charged you $85 for a med refill if it was between appointments. That is just insane.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Crook32

Not to derail the conversation but I recently looked around just to see what pdocs cost in the area without insurance and I was floored. One even charged you $85 for a med refill if it was between appointments. That is just insane.

Wow! It is insane!
I have never heard of this before.

WC

[Sunflower123]

I’ve been going to my pdoc for somewhere between 15-17 years now I guess. He took my insurance at first but then stopped taking it. I always have around 35-45 minutes with him (both with ins. and paying cash) and I pay $105 cash (he gave me a discount) and consider it a bargain. He’s like a pdoc/tdoc and friend rolled up into one. I’m very fortunate.

I wish you luck finding a pdoc who will give you adequate time and in getting a second opinion if you decide to do that.

[Blueberrybook]

My old pdoc was wonderful. She took insurance, but if you were at an appointment, and you needed 30 minutes of her time or even more, she would let the staff in front know and give it to you without extra cost. She billed the insurance $90 a session, but at times I had no insurance, she charged my $50 for out-of-pocket. My new pdoc is good, he will give you the extra time, but you can't tell he really wants to be efficient and stick to his 15 minute appts. I doubt he will charge less for out-of-pocket payments the way my old pdoc did. The downside with my old pdoc was sometimes you had to wait a long time past your appointment time to see her. The new doctor runs right on schedule unless he's had an emergency case. I still wish my old pdoc were not retiring, but she's also a wonderful person and has worked hard and deserves to enjoy this stage of her life.

[Crook32]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

Wow! It is insane!

I have never heard of this before.



WC

Found another that does it too but “only” charges $25. That is so taking advantage of people. I know when I am not doing well keeping track of med refills is pretty low on my list. I have forgotten a few times. I am just so lucky to have my pdoc.

I go to the VA, and from what I can tell, they don’t have a fixed schedule — each doctor I’ve had has been different (there’s a lot of turnover, so I’ve had many pdocs). I don’t pay anything. And there is always the walk-in clinic available if there is an emergency or you need a med refill but forgot to make an appointment. Like many things at the VA, the quality of your care varies a great deal, even within a department, just based on what doctor you get. Some are amazing. Some make you want to hurl yourself into the wall.

Current pdoc: 25-30 minutes. I’ve never needed extra time, but I get the sense she would take whatever time she needed. Or maybe she is giving me extra time and I’m just not aware of it.
Next most recent pdoc: seriously, 3 minutes. I would sit down and she would ask the same 3 questions every. single. time. Very very nice lady, but really cavelier with her clinical skills.
Next most recent: WIERD GUY that would talk for 40-60 minutes every time. It wasn’t therapy or even anything productive. He would get in these long discussions about how he thought I would be a good nurse (?????) and that I should go back to school, and if I did, he would prescribe me Adderall to help. I do not have an attention issue that I am aware of. Then one day....he was gone.
Others before that: Ranged from 10 to 25 minutes. Some were very competent and helpful. Some did nothing but type on their computer while ignoring my presence