Fee for Service FAQs
Written by Melissa Winters and published on 05-Jan-2010.
FAQ’s about paying out-of-pocket for therapy
· What are the benefits of choosing to pay out-of-pocket for therapy?
1) Freedom from hassles of the insurance company. When you make the important decision to see a therapist, you may spend hours trying to work out all of the insurance requirements and paperwork. Choosing not to use your insurance gives you the freedom to find the therapist you would like to see and begin work, without the added complications of referrals, authorizations, etc.
2) More choice in the provider you wish to see. It is awfully disappointing when you find a great therapist you would like to see, only to find out that she does not take your insurance. Choosing to pay out-of-pocket gives you more freedom to see the provider you think is the best fit.
3) Freedom from insurance-related restrictions. Many insurance companies restrict the frequency and certain types of treatments that may supplement your therapy. Paying out-of-pocket means that you can seek these other types of treatment when you and your therapist think it is suitable.
4) Liberty to stay in therapy longer than your benefits allow, and to explore issues that may not be covered by insurance. Many insurance companies allow only a certain number of sessions per year. Insurance companies also reserve the right to manage how often and how long you can use your benefits, and may decide that you cannot use your full number of sessions for certain problems. When paying out-of-pocket for therapy, you and your therapist will work together to figure out how long you can stay in therapy and what issues you want to work on.
5) Increased flexibility to fit therapy into your own schedule. When you call our office to schedule a new appointment, you will be asked questions about when you are available to come in. We realize that not everyone has the ability to come to therapy during regular business hours. You may find that many therapists who see only fee-for-service clients are available to see you on nights and even weekends, and may have more flexibility to find a time that works best for you.
· Who works on a fee-for-service basis, and why?
At Pike Creek Psychological Center, all of our therapists have the option of working on a fee-for-service basis. The following are different providers who work at PCPC:
o Intern: Individuals who are currently working on a graduate degree who work under the supervision of a licensed professional, and accept only fee-for-service clients.
o Post-graduate, unlicensed clinician: Therapists who have completed a graduate degree in the mental health field who are currently working towards gaining enough hours for licensure, and see only fee-for-service clients. These clinicians work under the supervision of a licensed professional.
o Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): Clinicians who have completed a Master’s degree in a mental health-related field and have gained enough hours for national licensure. These individuals may participate on some insurance panels, or may accept fee-for-service clients.
o Licensed Psychologist: Individuals who have completed a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in the field of psychology, and have completed sufficient hours for state licensure. These clinicians may participate on some insurance panels, or may accept fee-for-service clients.
There are also select therapists who work solely with clients who pay out-of-pocket, and there are several reasons for this.
Often when a new therapist begins working at the office, they are not participating on insurance panels yet, so they don’t take any insurance. PCPC also employs therapists at different levels of training and licensure. A therapist is required to work a certain number of hours before applying to insurance panels, and these therapists work on a fee-for-service basis.
Some of these therapists may be interns, or may have completed their degree and are working on completing enough hours for licensure. These therapists work under the supervision of a licensed therapist. This supervisor who won’t be in the session with you, but will help guide your therapist to provide you with the best treatment.
· But can I really afford it?
Chances are, we have a fee-for-service therapist who can see you at a rate you can afford. We offer a sliding scale option, which is a discount based on your income and number of people living in your home. The base rate of each therapist is determined by their highest degree and how far along in the licensing process they are.
· How does it work?
Our friendly and knowledgeable office staff specializes in helping you find a great therapist who is a good fit for you, who can see you at a time when you are available and at a rate you can afford. Starting the process is simple. All you need to do is visit the website and request an appointment, or call the office to speak with one of these specialists, and she will guide you through the process.
We look forward to working with you to help you find a great therapist to work with.
