[zoiecat]

My insurance told me today that they stopped covering video sessions as of 5/31. I called my T and he was not aware of it. He said he will call me tomorrow to let me know what will happen with sessions going forward. I really don't want to do sessions in person wearing a mask. I would rather do video.

Is anyone else in this situation?

[ElectricManatee]

I'm sorry, that sounds like a pretty terrible move on the part of your insurance company with not nearly enough notice. My insurance is still covering teletherapy (as far as I know!) and has temporarily waived co-pays due to COVID-19.

[nottrustin]

My insurance covered video sessions before Covid. That is a great point though. Something to mention at my work.

[daisydid]

Apparently my insurance will continue to cover video appointments through September. I’m sorry that your insurance hasn’t done the same.

[LonesomeTonight]

My T just bills my video sessions the way he bills a normal session, but I just get partial reimbursement from my insurance company because he's out of network. Would your T be willing to just bill you as a regular session maybe? If not, do you have any preexisting conditions that could put you at higher risk for Covid? If so, it seems like you could challenge your insurance company on that, saying it's not safe to go in person. Or, if your T isn't willing to do in-person sessions yet (I know mine isn't, for example), then you might be able to get an exception.

[*Beth*]

I'm so sorry! 5/31 - wow, that's no notice at all.


As far as I know my insurance will cover video sessions until Hell freezes over. I wish it didn't cover them. I hate video sessions and I would like an excuse (no insurance, sorry) to stop them

[zoiecat]

Update: My T called this afternoon and my insurance had just extended telehealth until 7/31 so it looks like I am good to go for now.

[LonesomeTonight]

Oh good--glad to hear that!

Thats really sad, I am sorry.
I do not use insurance.

[susannahsays]

As far as I know. If not, we're going to have a problem. Sorry this happened to you.

@LT that sounds kind of sketchy. I don't think it's the same billing code for remote sessions. However, I also don't think you'd be ethically wrong for deceiving your insurance company in this matter, although they would disagree and call it fraud. I wonder what mine is billing it as... I'll have to take a look at one of the recent EOBs.

[zoiecat]

Yes, there is a different code and my T is a stickler about going by the book. I told him I don't care how he bills it as long as it is covered by insurance but I know he won't break the insurance rules.

[Mountaindewed]

I’ve never gotten a bill since the video sessions started in March. I mean, I technically owe this place hundreds of dollars. I wonder if they waived the fees or what. I can’t imagine they’d keep doing it indefinitely.

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by zoiecat

Yes, there is a different code and my T is a stickler about going by the book. I told him I don't care how he bills it as long as it is covered by insurance but I know he won't break the insurance rules.

I asked mine about it the other day, and he's looking into it. He didn't seem to be aware that there was a separate code.

[nottrustin]

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

I’ve never gotten a bill since the video sessions started in March. I mean, I technically owe this place hundreds of dollars. I wonder if they waived the fees or what. I can’t imagine they’d keep doing it indefinitely.

What do you have for instance? I believe there are a couple that that are covering the copay during COVID?

[Mountaindewed]

Originally Posted by nottrustin

What do you have for instance? I believe there are a couple that that are covering the copay during COVID?

I have Medicare and united healthcare. But my therapist said the video sessions might become permanent.

[~Christina]

My co pay for Therapy session in person was like 19.89. I just got my Medicare EOB and its showing I only owe 11.14 or something odd for each session.

A friend lives in Kentucky and she also has Medicare and her T told her Medicare isnt requiring her to pay copays right now for video of phones sessions.

I need to call Medicare and find out if my state is the same.. I would love to not have to pay that twice a month.

[shamon86]

I work for a hospital as a certified medical coder so I'll tell you what I have found out. I will preface this by saying most of my job is coding for medical visits, not mental health. And I work and code for visits in the US.

Since the beginning of the whole COVID thing, insurance companies have been scrambling trying to figure out what they will accept and have only just now made up their minds on how hospitals and practices should bill and what they will cover. Some insurances are allowing us to bill as we normally do and attach modifiers to the codes to designate that the service was provided over the phone or via video. The amount charged to the insurance is the same as an in office visit.

Other insurances are asking us to use codes created specifically for telemedicine visits. The amounts that are charged to the insurance in this case is less than normal office visits.

If you pay a flat co pay, chances are you won't see a difference in what you pay. If you're working on a deductible or paying a co insurance then you may see a difference in what you used to pay vs what you pay now.

Hope this helps!

[Mountaindewed]

I got a letter from my insurance company yesterday. They are waiving all copays from April until September 30th. I’m not sure why. But that’s probably why the insurance company wanted to talk to her last week.

[Raindropvampire]

I have had two appointments with my Pdoc and three with my T all on the phone and no charges are pending with my insurance So I don't know if they don't consider them actual appointments or what. I haven't been able to do video sessions.

[LonesomeTonight]

My T said he started adding the code about a month ago. We have to submit claims to insurance for partial reimbursement (he's out of network), and they tend to be a couple months behind in reviewing claims, so not sure yet.