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Del Morrill, M.S. C.C.H

Transitions

A Center for Counseling & Hypnosis
Tacoma, Washington, USA
(253) 752-1506

Taking Insurance Cases

Question

   What do you think about taking insurance cases?  I have been getting questions from prospective clients about this, and am wondering if I should begin to take them? 

Answer

   Often I get questions from both clients and other therapists about why I don't take insurance.  I can’t say what you should do, or what any other therapist should do about this question. Some potential clients won’t go to anyone who doesn’t take insurance cases, and this may be difficult for some therapists. I know there are an increasing number of counselors taking insurance, who once never touched it. Here are my reasons, without trying to push it one way or another for anyone else.   First of all, understand there is a difference between what I mean by “taking” insurance cases and “handling” insurance cases.   

   I have never handled insurance cases, despite the temptation to do so. By that, I mean I will not register as an insurance provider with any insurance company, nor will I handle the paperwork required of them.    Probably the most important reason is the fact that I may not be able to keep confidentiality between my clients and me.  Although I haven’t had many insurance companies ask for records as proof of the therapy, they still are allowed to do so.  From what I've been led to understand, this information becomes known to all insurance companies.  Also, because we are required to add a medical code signifying the problem we’re working with, this could well create a “prior-condition” for a client’s later requests to insurance companies.  For instance, I have “depression” clients who come to me.  Putting in a Depression code can cause a serious problem to a client later in their life that they may have no inkling of, at the time of their visits with me.

     My second reason is that I would have to raise my prices in order to hire someone to handle all the paperwork required in becoming an insurance provider which each insurance company involved, and the paperwork required for each client’s sessions. Either that or I’d have to considerably expand my working hours in order to do it myself.

    My third reason is that insurance companies tend to put restrictions on the number of sessions a client should have before the company will re-evaluate continuance. That is a decision I wish to reserve for myself and my client.  

 
 

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