[SarahSweden]

I would like to hear about your experiences around being "thrown out" of therapy because you didn´t have the money to pay. Perhaps you started up and went to some sessions and something happened that made you unable to pay.

Or you got some sessions paid by your insurance company but just up to a limited number of sessions regardless your diagnosis or problem.

I´m in that situation myself, I´m very likely to be "thrown out" because my insurance company won´t pay any longer.

If you´ve been in this situation, what did your therapist say and do? Did you get any recommendations to another care giver? How did he or she tackle the fact that you didn´t got the treatment you needed for your problems because of the limited number of sessions?

[Travelinglady]

Hey, SarahSweden. I had to leave a psychiatrist I really liked because he didn't take my insurance. I first saw him in the hospital and for a few sessions afterward, but he refused to see me after that. As I recall, he did recommend some other doctors. He wasn't a therapist, but it's the same kind of thing.

[Nammu]

I've been on this roller coster many, many times. I've given up trying to fight the system, if you are poor the message is you don't deserve therapy, not where I live anyway. Strangely the medicare HMO I have tells me many times to just go to the hospital, but doesn't want to cover therapy? the hospital is more expensive you'd think they would rather cover outpatient than inpatient.

[Ellie1]

Yep, I've been thrown out and left without meds. That's my current situation.

[Beepee]

I was going to sliding fee scale therapy, but it went up from $15 to $35 a session. Can't afford that.

[ShiningOne]

My old college had a counseling center with therapists and psychiatrists. After I graduated, they told me I couldn't go any more. I really liked my therapist too (even though any progress was usually stifled). Sucked. Haven't seen a therapist since then (2 years ago.)

[Hellion]

I have had more trouble being able to afford therapy in the first place....but have you asked your therapist what they suggest you do to continue therapy? I now have medicaid which covers my therapy currently but it took a long time getting that....are there any therapists that offer lower costs, or any programs to help pay for things insurance won't cover....i live in the U.S so I'd have no idea what sort of things they have where you are.

[Creative1onder]

What about going but not paying for a session if you aren't happy with way therapist has been towards you? Can you do that?or refuse to pay if you have missed session cos you were unable to go?

[shabur]

I've been very fortunate. I see both my pdoc and tdoc every week. When my mental health coverage ended my tdoc worked with me. At first I continued to pay what would have been the copay. After I left my job due to my MI she took what I could afford. When I got coverage on my own she accepted what she received from my insurer without my having to pay the copay. Now I am on Medicare which she is not a part of. We have an agreed upon amount, but she told me to let her know if that becomes a problem. At one point I was paying her $10 per session. She understands how important she is to me and is willing to work with me to continue our relationship.

Before I started Medicare my pdoc was not a part of my insurer, but was covered under out of network after a large annual deductible and even after I hit that deductible they only covered a third of her price. She and I had an agreed upon amount as well that I could afford and still have some $$$ at the end of the month. She accepts Medicare and because I have a gap policy as well I don't need to pay her anything.

As I said at the beginning, I have been very fortunate that I have found these women who care enough about me to work with me. God has blessed me.

If/When I return to my career I want to start paying them back.

[Espresso]

I lost my insurance a while back, and I almost had to switch from my therapist and psychiatrist to the free option available in my city. We ended up working it out so I didn't have to permanently switch. Good thing too because after my first session with the free stuff, I was prepared to say "screw it" and take my chances on my own. Thankfully, I have insurance now and they've been paying for everything without complaint thus far.

[Altered Moment]

I am supposed to start therapy soon. I do not know if my sessions will be limited. I suspect they will be. I will be in the position of making progress and then have to stop most likely. I will just have to get what I can out of it.

Yes, in a way. It was MHMRA. The doctor told me I wasn't making progress and they couldn't help me. My former caseworker told me it was because of state budget cuts.