private pay versus Using INSURANCE
by Dr. Canaan Crane
The insurance industry has seen a lot of change over the last few decades. For some people, insurance can be a product that is a way to provide care at a reasonable rate. However, some insurance plans are best described as coverage for catastrophic events (hospitalization, etc.). As costs have skyrocketed, many of our clients have found it more economical to not use insurance but to pay out of pocket instead.
Our clients are wanting to avoid:
the hassle of meeting high copays and deductibles;
having to drive to a larger metropolitan area;
not being able to choose which therapist you see;
the requirement to have a mental health diagnosis as part of their health records.
One of the benefits of meeting with a marriage and family therapist is that our clients are able to meet goals much more quickly when family members and other support systems are included, or at least considered, in treatment. Our typical length of treatment is in the 6-8 sessions range compared to the 20-30+ session range for work that focuses on just the individual. When considering having to pay copays and meeting high deductibles, paying out of pocket for those 6-8 sessions is often cheaper than using insurance to pay for 30 sessions.
The "Institute" in our name indicates that we see our practice as a perfect opportunity for training the next generation of therapists. While we have Licensed Clinicians who can take insurance we also have clinicians who are “under supervision” and working on their license. These clinicians are able to offer a lower fee at a very economical rate of $60 a session and still provide the highest quality services. Depending on insurance copay and deductibles, it’s common that clients pay less to see a therapist under supervision than if they used their insurance.
Our admin staff can help you inquire about what using your insurance would actually cost. Let us know if we can help!