Health Insurance-To Use it or not: The Confidentiality Factor

I provide a therapy service directly to you and I ask for payment to be made directly to me. If you wish to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement, I will furnish you with a statement at the end of each month with all of the required information on it.

My fees  fall within the acceptable range by most insurance companies.  Whereas Psychotherapy is typically covered by most insurance plans you will have to contact your insurance carrier directly to confirm it is covered.

Whether to Use Your Insurance to Pay for Psychotherapy is an Important Decision

I am committed to confidentiality, and I believe that your therapy is yours, not your insurance company’s. Therefore, I do not participate in insurance plans nor do I accept assignment of benefits. What this means is that I am not an “in-network” provider, and your insurance company will not pay me directly. One of the most important elements of the therapeutic relationship is privacy and confidentiality.  As a therapist–working with sensitive issues– I take this oath very seriously. It is the basis of trust.

Before making the decision to use your insurance coverage to reimburse you for therapy, please consider the following:

  1. Confidentiality: All insurance companies require some information about the reason for psychological treatment in order to process your claim. Insurance plans often require detailed information regarding the problem for which you are seeking help, history, symptoms, family and work life to make a determination if treatment is medically necessary . This information is then entered into an increasingly large information data system where you can’t assume that  confidentiality will be respected. In many ways, paying for therapy using your health insurance threatens privacy.
  2. Control of Treatment: A psychiatric diagnosis must be made before most insurance companies will pay. Insurance companies use this diagnosis and your personal information to determine if treatment is medically necessary. The insurance company then determines what kind of therapy is approved, and how long it should continue. Many insurance company employees who make these decisions have limited training and do not have an understanding of who you are and what you are trying to achieve with treatment.
  3. Psychiatric diagnosis: To submit a claim for reimbursement a psychiatric diagnosis must be supplied. I will discuss your diagnosis with you so that you may decide how comfortable you are with submitting for reimbursement under your insurance plan.

How to Pay for Your Sessions

Cash, check and all major credit cards accepted for payment. You can make secure online payments by clicking on the link below:

Pay My Bill Online

Cancellation Policy

In order to provide the best therapy services possible and ensure optimal use of valuable therapy time, please discuss schedule changes at the end of your appointment. I understand occasional changes are necessary due to illness, vacations, etc. This allows for clients to reschedule into additional openings. If you do not show up for your scheduled therapy appointment, and you have not provided notification at least 24 hours in advance, you will be required to pay the full cost of the session.

Contact Adrian J Connolly LLC for further details or email at AdrianJConnolly@gmail.com.  Call 202.669.0013