Insurance & Payments 

 

We accept some major insurance plans:

​

Aetna, BCBS, Signa, United Health Care.

​

Things you should know before using insurance: 

 

YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY – By using insurance, I am required to give you a mental health disorder diagnosis that goes on your medical record.  I am not required to tell you the diagnosis, but as best practice, it is my policy that we collaborate on this information.  You may have had a previous diagnosis from another treatment provider.  After my assessment, if I clinically determine that you have the same diagnosis, I will use that diagnosis.  If I assess you and clinically determine otherwise, I will discuss that information with you before providing you with either a new diagnosis or secondary diagnosis.  Your insurance company will know the times and dates of services provided.  They may request further information to authorize additional services regarding your treatment. 

​

It is also important to note that some psychiatric diagnoses are not eligible for reimbursement.  This is often true for marriage/couples therapy.  In the event of non-coverage or denial of payment, you will be responsible to pay for such services. Advent Counseling and Training Services Inc. reserves the right to seek payment of unpaid balances by collection agency or legal recourse after reasonable notice to you.

​

PRE-AUTHORIZATION & REDUCED CONFIDENTIALITY– When visits are authorized, sometimes only a few sessions are granted at a time.  When these sessions are complete, your therapist may need to justify the need for continued service potentially causing a delay in treatment.  Sometimes additional sessions are not authorized, leading to an end of the therapeutic relationship even if you do not feel you have achieved your therapeutic goals.  Your insurance company may request or require additional clinical, confidential information in order to approve or justify a continuation of services.  I cannot assure or guarantee your confidentiality when an insurance company requires this information to authorize continued services.  Even if the therapist justifies the need for ongoing services, your insurance company may decline services regardless if you think you need continued therapy or not.  For these and other reasons, many therapists discuss “the myth of confidentiality” whenever insurance companies become part of the therapeutic process.

​

POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF A DIAGNOSIS– Insurance companies require the therapist to give you a mental health diagnosis (i.e., “major depression” or “obsessive-compulsive disorder”) in order to get reimbursed. Psychiatric diagnoses may come back to negatively impact you in the following ways:

1.      Denial of insurance when applying for disability or life insurance;

2.      Company (mis)control of information when claims are processed;

3.      Loss of confidentiality due to the increased number of persons handling claims;

4.      Loss of employment and/or repercussions of a diagnosis in situations that require revealing that you have a mental health disorder diagnosis.  This includes but is not limited to applying for job applications, applying for financial aid, and concealed weapons permits. 

5.      A psychiatric diagnosis can be brought in a court case such as a family law, criminal, etc. 

​

It is important for you to be an informed consumer, so you can empower yourself in regards to your health and medical record.  At times, having a diagnosis can be helpful such as in the case of a child needing extra services in the school system or a person being able to receive disability.