I have struggled with many of the areas outlined in the above article. I want to be fair in reporting my experience, as not all insurance experiences are negative, and many therapists, myself included, do accept insurance.
It is very complicated and heartbreaking to help clients when insurance companies tell me what I can and cannot do, such as how often I can see a client. Client needs vary depending on what is going on in their lives. An example of this is the college and high school students I see as a large part of my therapy practice. Many do well over the summer when there is no academic pressure, and they can take a break from therapy — their anxiety peaks when college and school resume and through the academic year. Many of them return to weekly therapy at that time.
I could write a 1,000-page book and still not cover all of the nuances of insurance, from credentialing with insurance panels to being told there are "too many providers" in my area (when there are therapist shortages and long waitlists) to extensive documentation to untimely payment or lack of payment.
I can attest to the parts about going months to a year without payment from insurance companies. I worked with one client who moved overseas, and we encountered an insurance issue after she moved. It took me two hours a week of phone calls for a YEAR to appeal the lack of payment! By the time I factored in the hours spent on the phone, faxing, emailing, and appealing - I had made a total of $5.
When insurers do not pay in a timely manner, I run into a challenge as I rent an office space, am a single mother, and have to cover expenses such as my family's health insurance. None of that includes my expenses for daily living (rent, car payment, car insurance, electric, etc.).
I tell clients to contact their insurance companies, appeal claim denials, contact insurance advocacy groups, and contact local and state officials to raise awareness of the barriers to mental health treatment.
Here are a few resources that may also be of assistance:
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