[Petra5ed]

I didn't want to be mad about this, but I knew I would be. My job switched insurance carriers this year to an insurance my therapist doesn't take. Therapy was covered under my old insurance (and free since I met my deductible), but not anymore. And of course I had hoped my therapist would take my new insurance just for me, but it won't work out that way. It's United, which is apparently horrible, barely reimbursing and requiring a lot of sensitive disclosures about each patient. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm going to try to keep going, but financially it is a real struggle now and I'm not sure how long I will last. And it's a shame that I'm angry now... things were going so well between us, I was starting to feel like he cared. I'm just so hurt now, and I cant even talk to him about it.

Dang, it really sucks that your job changed insurance.

I really hope your therapist can offer you sliding scale or something which would enable you to continue seeing him.

[LonesomeTonight]

Can you claim it as an out-of-network provider and still get some reimbursement? My T is out of network, but still get reimbursement for part of the cost, just less than if it was in-network. And after we meet a deductible.

[lostwonder]

My therapist started taking United for me, and is now dropping it even though they still have clients on it (I'm not.) They are that bad that no one wants to touch them.

[Sarah1985]

United is the worst!!

What about a reduce fee? Maybe he can work something out with you.

[Petra5ed]

I would ask for a reduced fee but it seems like if the insurance amount is too low then why would a reduced rate not be too low. It would be crazy if he was ok for example with me paying $70 a session but not ok with my insurance reimbursing the same... Not sure if I'm missing something here?

[Petra5ed]

Originally Posted by LonesomeTonight

Can you claim it as an out-of-network provider and still get some reimbursement? My T is out of network, but still get reimbursement for part of the cost, just less than if it was in-network. And after we meet a deductible.

My out of network deductible is something like 20k, and in network expenses don't reduce the deductible either.

[Petra5ed]

Originally Posted by lostwonder

My therapist started taking United for me, and is now dropping it even though they still have clients on it (I'm not.) They are that bad that no one wants to touch them.

It's true. There are only a select few therapists who came up when I searched my network and none of them had more than 5 years experience. It looked like the bottom of the barrel of therapists. **** united.

[Leah123]

Originally Posted by Petra5ed

I would ask for a reduced fee but it seems like if the insurance amount is too low then why would a reduced rate not be too low. It would be crazy if he was ok for example with me paying $70 a session but not ok with my insurance reimbursing the same... Not sure if I'm missing something here?

Originally Posted by Petra5ed

It's United, which is apparently horrible, barely reimbursing and requiring a lot of sensitive disclosures about each patient.

Well, you mentioned it was not only low reimbursement that made that insurance subpar: the insurance probably causes paperwork hassles and other issues for him too, so I wouldn't reject the idea of asking him about a sliding scale/reduced fee without trying it if you can't afford him otherwise... what's the worst he could say? "Sorry, I can't" and then you wouldn't be worse off than you are...

Just a thought.

[Sarah1985]

Originally Posted by Petra5ed

I would ask for a reduced fee but it seems like if the insurance amount is too low then why would a reduced rate not be too low. It would be crazy if he was ok for example with me paying $70 a session but not ok with my insurance reimbursing the same... Not sure if I'm missing something here?

well you don't know unless you ask!

[luvnola]

I would ask about a sliding fee. I had a horrible insurance at one time and for my t, it was worth it to her to offer me a sliding fee rather than have to do all the paperwork the insurance required. Remember that paperwork costs them time so that's money to them. It really can't hurt to ask. Good luck.

This may sound incredibly daft but are you not allowed to choose your own insurance company or swap policies to any other company you want in USA?

[Patsfan]

Originally Posted by eden1515

This may sound incredibly daft but are you not allowed to choose your own insurance company or swap policies to any other company you want in USA?

No. Many people get their insurance through their employer. Some of the larger companies offer different types, but smaller companies usually only offer one if any. tHe elderly get their insurance from the federal govt, the poor thru their state government. If you don't fall into any of these companies you can purchase insurance through a govt health exchange.

Oh that is weird and sounds kind of stupid to me no offence it just sounds silly that you cant pick a provider who suits you.

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by eden1515

Oh that is weird and sounds kind of stupid to me no offence it just sounds silly that you cant pick a provider who suits you.

Agreed! Our health system has a lot of issues...it's also one of the most expensive, yet on various health markers (like infant mortality), the U.S. ranks very low compared to other countries. So we don't get what we pay for... It's part of why I'm now pursuing a career in public health--to help the people who can't choose their insurance plan and doctors. Everyone deserves health care (both physical and mental health). OK, stepping off soap box for now!

[cakeladie]

Our health system in the USA does suck. My son has autism OCD mild retardation and an authority processing disorder. All his dad had to do was call to get a list of doctors who took his insurance (we are divorced) but he could not do it. He walked out on us when our sons problems started showing. Anyway my husbands insurance for mental health is not good. Our copay is $200 if we use his dads insurance it's $15 a visit. Kinda a no brainer if you ask me. It took me over 4 1/2 hours to get names of doctors in our area that took his dads insurance and the only reason I got the information was because I got 2 ladies that had exhusbands like mine. But it still did not matter. I needed his medical card in order for hi. To be seen. I have asked for that card since December. The day before his appointment his dad did put the card in my mail box but the head ache to find a doctor and get the card was a nightmare.

This all ties in sorry for rambling. When my sister was in high school she needed jaw surgery. My moms work had just switched insurance company's. The new company did not cover has much has the old policy. My mom went to her union and management and told them about the problem. Now because the company changed to an insurance that was not has good the company had to make up the difference. Meaning they can't just switch your insurance to a crappier one to save money the company had to offer similar benefits. Now this was in the 80's but maybe this could work for you? It's worth a try and I am sorry for rambling

[Lauliza]

Have you had a discussion with your T about this? You'll have I anyway since it sounds like you may need to end therapy with him (sorry if I am wrong). I would definitely ask about the sliding scale.

My MH insurance is UBH and most Ts in solo practices don't take it (but where I live ones with agencies or group practices do). When I've spoken to Ts about it it's never been the financial aspect that came up as the deciding factor of whether or not they'd work with them, it was the paperwork - the continuous insurance reviews they had to do are time consuming and overly complicated. I've seen the EOB for my pdoc and T and their rate is terrible, but this may not be the main reason he doesn't take it. It can't hurt to ask.

I am sorry you all have to deal with this our system is fine but we have a HUGE lack of infrastructure and resources particularly in mental health and people who go by public health can wait up to 2 years for surgery like knee replacements we also pay a huge amount of tax my parents pay 2/3 of their income to tax so maybe that has to do with the difference that and we try to model our system more like that of UK. But the system the U.S. Seems to have seems like it just means a lot of people are getting ripped off. I hope you can find a solution to you insurance issue.