Can I use my insurance to pay for counseling?
- If you wish to call your insurance company to find out what your benefits are for out of network services, the following are some important questions to ask:
- Do
I have out of network benefits for outpatient mental health counseling? Is my
policy still active or set to terminate soon?
What is my out of network deductible? Have I met any of that for the current year?
What is the percentage of reimbursement that I can expect when my deductible has been met? Do I also have a copay?
Do I have a limited number of visits per year?
Do I need to obtain authorization for out of network care? If so, how do I do this?
Does my policy cover my counselor’s credentials? (Note that New Source Counselors are Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors or LPCCs in Ohio.)
Can you tell me how much will actually be reimbursed and whether the check will come to me or be sent to New Source Counseling Centers?
How will my insurance claims be processed?
Your counselor may give you a Superbill, which is a form that you can choose to submit to your insurance company yourself in order to receive reimbursement, or your claims can be submitted electronically by New Source. The method of submission is something that you and your counselor will discuss in advance of your appointment.
What are the fees for counseling? What can I expect to pay?
New Source charges a set rate for services of $160 for the initial session and $120 for each 45 to 60 minute session after that. Other fees may be incurred in the event of an emergency or crisis situation, or in case testing is recommended. Testing fees will be discussed with you in advance and crisis intervention fees are listed on our fee schedule, also found on this website. Payment is expected at the time of service and may be made by check, cash, or credit/debit card. HSA and Flex Spending cards may also be able to be used for payment. We do charge a $4.00 per transaction fee for the use of credit or debit cards.
How many sessions will I need?
The number of sessions required for effective treatment for your needs is impossible to tell prior to having an assessment done with your counselor. Once that assessment is completed, your counselor will be able to give you an estimate of how often you might be seen and how many sessions might be recommended for you. This will ultimately be something that the two of you discuss and agree upon based on your needs. The goal will be to give you the best possible care while keeping the financial aspect of counseling in mind. If weekly meetings are not affordable or necessary, it may be possible to schedule biweekly or monthly or to schedule half-hour sessions instead of full hours.
Does my insurance cover marriage counseling?
Most insurance plans will cover family counseling or individual counseling that includes the presence of a family member in the same session. Plans generally don’t cover “marriage counseling” as such. You can call your insurance company and ask if “family counseling” is a covered service.