INSURANCE

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Do you accept insurance?​

As of August 1, 2024, I accept Aetna insurance in MA and FL. If you have Aetna and are interested in working together, please feel free to contact me directly to discuss next steps. Your session fees will depend on your specific healthcare plan, co-pay or coinsurance, and your deductible.​​ You can check your coverage here.

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I am not able to work with patients who have Medicare or Medicaid (or MassHealth) due to dual credentialing issues with my hospital affiliation. If you have Medicare, Medicaid, or MassHealth, you may wish to search for an in-network provider.

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Does insurance cover financial wellness coaching?

No, unfortunately, insurance benefits cannot be applied to financial wellness coaching. This is because financial wellness coaching is distinct from therapy. In financial coaching, we do not make diagnoses or offer treatment for mental health conditions. As such, your mental health treatment benefits do not apply.

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PRIVATE-PAY

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What if I don't have Aetna or don't want to use my insurance?​​​

If I am out-of-network with your insurance (meaning you have an insurance provider who I am not credentialed with), I can provide "super-bills" at the end of each month, which you can submit to your insurance company for partial reimbursement. Please check your out-of-network benefits with your insurance provider to better understand what reimbursements might be available to you. You will likely be able to get some of the session fee reimbursed by your insurance provider.

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Some people also choose to pay out of pocket. I accept most forms of payment for those who wish to pay directly, including major credit cards, checks, and venmo. Below, I have provided some benefits of private pay. 

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USING INSURANCE VS PRIVATE-PAY

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What are some of the benefits of using insurance for therapy?​

1. Reduce Cost, Increased Accessibility: The biggest benefit of using insurance for therapy is reducing your out-of-pocket cost. Lower costs mean more people can access high-quality care. Insurance allows for the opportunity to pay less for your therapy sessions. This is why I accept Aetna insurance: so that more people can access high-quality care.

2. Consistent Sessions: Relatedly, when you have to pay less for each session, you may be better able to regularly attend therapy. Research shows that therapy works best when it is consistent (usually weekly therapy sessions are suggested, but it will depend on your specific case). So being able to pay less per session often increases the likelihood of being able to have a regular schedule of therapy sessions.

3. Deductibles: Some people with higher deductible plans find that using their insurance for therapy that they were going to pay for anyway helps them find value in meeting their deductible. This helps to reduce the cost of medical care across the board.

 

Using insurance for therapy may not be for everyone.

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What are some of the benefits of private pay therapy?​​

1. Confidentiality: Since private pay therapy doesn't involve insurance companies, your private mental health information will not be shared (unless you request it) with anyone else. This can enhance confidentiality and privacy for clients who would like to reduce the number of people involved in their mental health care (such as individuals associated with billing and insurance companies)

2. Choice of Therapist: Clients have the freedom to choose the therapist that best fits their needs and preferences, rather than being limited to therapists within their insurance network. This can be particularly important for clients seeking specialized or niche services, such as Behavioral Medicine.

3. Flexibility: Private pay therapy often offers more flexibility in scheduling appointments and determining the frequency and duration of sessions. Some insurance-based models also limit the number of sessions clients can receive and are not set up for longer-term care.

4. Greater Autonomy: Clients have more control over their treatment process and can collaborate more closely with their therapist to set goals and priorities. Without insurance restrictions, therapists and clients can work together to tailor the therapeutic approach to the individual's unique needs.

5. Continuity of Care: Private pay therapy can provide greater continuity of care since clients aren't as likely to face disruptions due to changes in insurance coverage, network restrictions, or preauthorization requirements.

6. Diagnosis: Importantly, insurance companies require that you both receive a diagnosis in order to reimburse for services, and that this diagnosis be kept on file. This can increase stigma, decrease your confidentiality, and may impact other care you receive in the future. 

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WHERE DO I NEED TO BE WHEN WE MEET?

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For both therapy and coaching, I ask that you be a in a private location where you can speak freely. When we meet remotely, I ask that you have your camera on and be ready to use HIPAA-compliant Zoom. 

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What states do you provide therapy in?

For therapy, I am licensed in both Massachusetts and Florida. You need to be physically located in either state at the time we meet, even when we meet via telehealth.

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What states do you provide financial wellness coaching in?

For coaching, we are able to meet in any state because financial coaching is not subject to the same licensure requirements as therapy.

 

Of course, it is important to note that these services are different and the focus of our work is naturally different as well. Although we can work together from any state, financial wellness coaching does not treat mental health diagnoses. If you are interested in receiving treatment for mental health diagnoses, and are not located in MA or FL, I suggest you find a licensed clinical psychologist in your state. You may find this tool helpful.