PAYMENT OPTIONS
Obsidian Counseling Payment Options & Quick Education
We would like our clients to make educated decisions regarding their treatment and care.
We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO for insurance however we prefer self pay. Since your education is our top priority, we included some information about why we prefer self pay for our clients.
Why do we accept BCBS PPO but prefer self-pay as a counseling practice?
At Obsidian, our priority is the client- yes you! We encourage our clients to consider self-pay because insurance is not always the best option. Counseling is an investment, and we want our treatment to be focused on your health and wellness. When billing through insurance, there are other factors involved that are often not discussed with clients:
1. Using Insurance for Mental Health Means Less Confidentiality
Privacy is an important aspect of the therapeutic relationship. However, privacy is challenged when insurance is involved. Your counselor is required to provide your diagnosis and treatment notes to your insurance company in order to get paid. Our goal is for you to feel safe to be open in your therapy sessions, knowing that what you say in sessions stays between you and your therapist.
2. Insurance Typically Requires a Diagnosis (assumed illness)
Insurance companies operate on a medical model. This means that counselors must provide a diagnosis to justify that individual has "medical necessity." When working with insurance, our counselors must assign you a diagnosis even when there may not be a diagnosis that fits what you are going through. Through this model, the following common reasons for treatment are not included: relationship issues (couples or family therapy), developmental/attachment trauma, existential issues, life transitions, personal development, or self-improvement. Since these common reasons for treatment are excluded from the diagnostic manual (the DSM-V), a counselor may have to give you a less accurate diagnosis that then becomes part of your medical record.
3. The Insurance-Driven Treatment Plan
Often, insurance companies try to dictate treatment. This includes setting the number of sessions, frequency of sessions, and the type of care provided for the client. At Obsidian, we believe that these choices should be made by you and your counselor. Self-pay provides the flexibility that you need for your care. We acknowledge that each person's schedule and lifestyle are unique and that life is unpredictable. We would like to be able to cater our treatment to you and your needs. For example, an individual may begin counseling to address recent feelings of anxiety but suddenly lose a family member; in this scenario, we would shift our treatment plan to include grief to suit your present needs.
So, what are the benefits of self-pay?
No labels- You do not need to carry an unnecessary and possibly inaccurate diagnosis on your medical record.
Confidentiality- Your therapy is between you and your counselor. You get to choose who you share your information with, and your therapeutic notes remain private.
Autonomy- You are the center of our treatment; therefore, we want you to be able to be involved in personalizing your treatment to fit your present needs.
Quality personalized care and attention- Without the time-consuming back and forth between therapist and insurance company, our time can be selectively focused on you and your treatment.
Now that you are aware of the benefits of self pay versus the use of insurance you can make an educated decision on how to best manage your care.
Self Pay
Self-pay clients typically prefer to keep their information confidential. Many insurance companies require dates of service, diagnostic codes, and even therapy notes. As such, these clients prefer to pay for sessions out of pocket. Obsidian Counseling & Wellness accepts credit cards and checks. If requested, a detailed invoice can be provided.
Insurance
Insurance clients seek payment through their insurance company. Obsidian Counseling & Wellness is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. Each insurance policy is unique, so we advise our clients to call their insurance carrier prior to the first session.
