Insurance / Managed Care: The insurance and the health care system is complicated and confusing! Please try to verify the specifics
of your plan before you see me so you know what your out-of-pocket
costs will be. I can help with that if you provide me with your
insurance information and date of birth.
Look on the back of your insurance card and call the member number
for Mental Health or Behavioral Health to verify details.
Some companies contract out for their behavioral services, so sometimes counseling companies are a different name than your
medical insurance company.
I am on the following insurance companies provider lists (in general) but please double-check in case your specific plan is different:
Aetna
Blue Cross, Blue Shield: most out of state plans are covered.
Cigna
EverNorth
Lyra (an employee benefit plan for a list of companies, separate
from their medical insurance.)
Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield.
(An exception to Regence in Utah is usually the University
of Utah campus employees, they require their members to use
the U's campus services, such as HMHI BHN (Huntsman).
EMI (Educator's Mutual Insurance)
Lyra (through various employers as an extra benefit separate
from medical insurance. Check with your HR to see if they
provide that, or another type of benefit for counseling.
MEDICARE. Most people on Medicare also have an additional plan, either called an Advantage or Supplemental Plan, also
sometimes called Medigap. There are so many and they vary
quite a lot as to the details of their coverage. I am on Medicare and
some of the additional plans, and enjoy working with older adults.
PEHP (Public Employees Health Plan)
Select Health ( all plans except Signature plans)
United HealthCare (One Healthcare, Optum, UMR)
Other good information to know about insurance and counseling:
*Is there a deductible? Has it been met for this plan year? If you
have a high deductible plan you can pay with an HSA debit card
until the deductible is met. Or Self-Pay may be better for you.
If you have an HSA debit card you can use it for any out-of-pocket
medical costs, including counseling and therapy.
Verifying insurance coverage and out of pocket costs: questions?
*What types of issues are covered? Most require a diagnosis of a
current emotional problem, such as depression, anxiety, etc.
* What is not covered? They may not cover couples counseling,
career counseling, or other life problems unless there is also a
primary emotional diagnosis that is covered.
* EAP plans will cover any life problems for a limited number of
sessions, at no cost to you. They need to authorize services
ahead of time, and you should check with me to see if I can
accept that plan.
