Fees and Insurance
Fees are collected at time of service.
Some clinicians are “in-network” with insurance panels through a third-party provider, allowing for a co-pay or co-insurance to be paid at the time of service. Claims will then be submitted to insurance on your behalf.
If you would like to submit an insurance claim toward “out of network” benefits, a Superbill can be prepared and delivered to you through your portal on a monthly basis. You may then submit the Superbill to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Simply let your clinician know if you would like a Superbill.
We offer a sliding-fee scale for clients not using insurance benefits to pay for services and will make every effort to make counseling affordable as well as productive in achieving your goals.
Please call our client relationship coordinator for information on fees as you research your counseling options.
Insurance FAQ’s
Is Directions Counseling & Coaching in my insurance network?
The majority of Directions Counseling & Coaching clinicians are not contracted with major insurance companies; however, those who are “in network” with insurance companies will have a list of those companies included on their bio page.
If your clinician is not contracted with an insurance company, often times insurance plans offer ‘out of network’ benefits. In this case, if you plan to use those benefits, you need to request a Superbill from your clinician. You then submit the Superbill to your insurance company for “out of network” consideration. Reimbursement is contingent on your insurance plan, so it’s recommended that you contact your company regarding ‘out of network’ benefits.
If you are not using insurance benefits to pay for services, Directions Counseling & Coaching also offers sliding fees based on household income and family size for qualifying clients.
Can my out-of-network benefits help pay for my services?
Some insurance plans offer “out of network” benefits and reimburse you for counseling services. We encourage you to call your insurance company to determine your out-of-network benefits.
If you would like to submit claims to your insurance company, please let your clinician know so they can have a Superbill prepared for you, which you will receive through your portal on a monthly basis. This Superbill contains the information your insurance company needs to process your claim and reimburse you according to your benefits.
What questions do I need to ask my insurance company about my benefits?
- Is behavioral health counseling covered by my health insurance?
- If so, do I have a deductible?
- If so, what is the amount?
- What portion of my deductible have I met this year?
- Do I have a co-pay amount or co-insurance percentage?
- How many visits do I have per calendar/policy year?
- Do I need preauthorization/pre-certification for my visits?
- If so, can I get a preauthorization/pre-certification number?
- How many visits does this cover?
- What are the effective dates for this authorization/certification?
- Does my policy cover my counselor’s credentials*?
All clients and parent(s) or guardian(s) of clients are responsible for understanding and abiding by the benefits of their individual insurance policy.
*Some states vary in their credential designations. Please note that Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Professional Counselor (PC) are the same licensures; Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) may vary from PCC, which could stand for Professional Clinical Counselor OR Professional Certified Coach in the state of Ohio. Coaching is not covered by insurance.
*Please see our Clinicians page for a complete listing of each of our providers’ credentials.
Can I use my Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) to help pay for my services?
Counseling is commonly an eligible expense for your FSA, HRA or HSA plan. We encourage you to check with your FSA, HRA or HSA plan to confirm eligible expenses. If counseling is an eligible expense, you may use your account issued card at time of service or submit a receipt to your account administrator for reimbursement. The receipt contains the information your account administrator needs to process your claim and reimburse you according to your eligibility. If you intend to submit to your account for reimbursement, please request an insurance receipt at the time of your visit.
If I do not have insurance or out-of-network benefits what other options does Directions Counseling & Coaching offer?
We understand that paying out of pocket may be financially difficult; therefore, we have options that you may find helpful. During the intake, you can ask our intake coordinator about a sliding fee. Sliding fees vary per counselor and we will make every effort to match you with the right therapist for your particular area of concern and financial situation. You may also reduce the frequency of your visits once you have gotten established with a counselor. Many clients visit us on a biweekly or monthly basis. For many individuals this works well therapeutically as well as financially as it provides time between sessions so they can practice the suggestions, recommendations or plans that emerged from the prior session. Please speak with your counselor regarding their recommendation for follow up (or session) frequency as a reduction in frequency may not be appropriate in every situation.
Are there concerns about using my insurance whether in-network or out-of-network?
There is a debate in the professional community about whether or not it is wise to use your health insurance to help cover counseling costs. Two concerns exist: one about your privacy and the other about the quality of care you receive.
Privacy Concerns: When applying for new insurance you may be required to sign a release so the new insurer can check your past medical history. Some argue that in such cases you may be disqualified with the new insurer for life, health and other types of insurance because you at one time had a diagnosis. We cannot make decisions about whom you share your mental health treatment history with, but we do encourage you to be fully aware of your privacy rights and the potential impact of insurance companies having personal information which you may be requested to release at a later time.
Quality of Care Concerns: Some insurance companies monitor and limit professional counseling services in order to prevent excessive use of the benefit and keep their costs as low as possible. This means an insurance company may be making decisions about the type or amount of counseling you can receive under their coverage. Critics of managed care contend that you are better served in the long run by paying for your services directly and leaving third parties, who don’t really know you, out of important decisions about your mental health.
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