I No Longer Accept Insurance – And Here’s Why

I stopped taking insurance. You’re either curious as to why or maybe a little jealous that you haven’t stopped taking it yourself.
The fact is I decided to leave the insurance networks for a variety of reasons:

1. Out of pocket costs and deductibles are rising for clients.This means I’ll need to be paid directly anyway BUT I’m locked into a “contracted rate” which is continuing to go down. (Meaning I am making less and less and less for doing more and more and more) … Makes no sense to me either. If people are paying more for their insurance then why am I not getting paid more? They claim that costs are going up but it isn’t because they’re paying care providers.
2.  The complex system of insurance is mind-boggling for providers. Insurance companies are demanding more of my time to submit claims and then we must jump through hoops when they “lose” your claims or deny them because they don’t believe a client needs therapy weekly or some other BS. The insurance companies dictate treatment and control how long I can see you in my office and how frequent you can see me. Unacceptable. 
3. Couples can’t see a therapist because insurance doesn’t believe couples therapy is valuable… especially since there isn’t a mental health diagnosis attached. I see individuals, but there are times when I might recommend a client and his/her/their spouse seek additional support with a couple’s therapist, but they can’t afford to go. This is because insurance companies aren’t really concerned about keeping relationships intact and this is only my opinion based on years of trying to negotiate with them on this issue. In fact, insurance companies are worried about insurance companies and frequently care is just a managed cost of worrying about insurance companies.
   
4. Insurance companies demand that the private information you share with me, also be shared with them. They may request the notes I take during session or any other information you and I discuss. I believe this is none of their business. 
5. Insurance companies receive premiums… meaning insurance companies get paid on time. Strangely though - they don’t pay their portion of your coverage until they decide to. They claim they do, but the truth is, an insurance company can have “computer issues” or use fax machines that get sucked up in some Bermuda-Triangle wormhole or face bankruptcy and I don’t get paid. This has happened to me too many times.
   
6. I value my clients and the work we do together. I want to give you my 100% and I feel I need the flexibility to run my practice without undue influence from outside sources. I want these relationships to be the most important factor in the room; not having to worry about whether I am going to get paid or of I have to send them someone’s records throughout the year.

I love this work. It’s more than a job for me. I want to meet people wherever they are on their path and I believe making the decision to leave the insurance company networks is the best decision.
I am still willing to submit the invoice to the insurance company but the insured will have to negotiate any troubles with insurance. Most will be reimbursed up to 70% or more, so the cost to see me won’t be a terrible and expensive burden.