[LindaLu]

Each new calendar year health care providers want a new photocopy of my insurance card and fresh signatures on HIPAA forms. Also some announce new rate$ for treatment. What is likely to come from my (continuing) therapist? Sorry if this sounds dumb but administrative things like this make me anxious. Especially the money part. My first 2015 session is late next week.

I haven't been to a T in the new year while using my insurance. Thanks for mentioning it. I think I will proactively make a copy of my insurance card. I already found out through insurance stuff provided by my employer that my copy went up $5 a session and is now $30.

[KayDubs]

Originally Posted by LindaLu

new rate$ for treatment

Yyyyyup. Emphasis on the $.

[NowhereUSA]

I've never had much of an issue from one year to the next. I haven't changed insurances in a while and they haven't upped the co-pay so my agency will just make a copy of my card and I'll continue as is with my T.

That said, the agency has a screwy administrative system and they don't know what they're doing 90% of the time. They randomly send me bills and then later I have credits (I don't pay the bills because I know the bills are them not waiting for my insurance to send the $$). *eye roll* Mid-summer they were updating their system and needed to re-scan my card and then called me in a panic because OMG my insurance was denying the claims and I was like, "Did you spell my husband's name correctly?" (it's an odd spelling of a common name) and the lady was like, "Oh. Huh. Yeah."

And then there was the time they tried to come after me for a bill my insurance denied because they waited too long to file it (like a year later). When I got my insurance advocate involved they had to eat the bill. Even my T has said he's had to go down there once or twice and be like, "WTH are you people doing?"

Thankfully my T will go to bat for me with the accounting department when they're being dipwads.

Really? My healthcare providers just ask I let them know if I change insurance or my insurance coverage changes in some way (whatever time of year that might happen). I've never had to fill our new HIPAA forms beyond the first time. My therapist has only raised his rate once since I started seeing him. I can't remember if it was at the beginning of a calendar year or not. There were notices out about six weeks before the rates went into effect. It didn't really change anything for me personally because I use insurance.

I've honestly never found that anything new happens regarding the start of a new year unless I actually had an insurance change at that point.

[LindaLu]

Thanks everyone. Regarding new year and repeating HIPAA and insurance forms it might be hospital system regulation or even state law but it's gone on 10+ years like this. It's just awkward expecting it from a T.

[scorpiosis37]

I see a T in private practice and have never had to do anything in regards to the new year.i only showed her my insurance card at the first visit. My co-pay has been the same for 4 1/2 years.

Originally Posted by LindaLu

Thanks everyone. Regarding new year and repeating HIPAA and insurance forms it might be hospital system regulation or even state law but it's gone on 10+ years like this. It's just awkward expecting it from a T.

It may just be his office policy, particularly if he's associated with a hospital. I know when I go see my family doctor (which isn't all that often), they always ask for my insurance card, but that makes sense since they see me so rarely.

My t hasn't mentioned any changes. Of course my last appt was on 12/31. She may yet spring something on me on 1/10 when we talk again. I don't know. I pay out of pocket, cuz she doesn't take insurance. (which is why I do 25 minute sessions almost always, so I pay half her 50 minute rate.)

[nottrustin]

The time I gave her my insurance card was the first time. Last year my copay went up but I never gave her my card...I just started paying the new price. It probably helps that my husband works for one of the largest employers in the state. So her I am sure he biller knows more about my insurance benefits than I do