counseling qustion

[twomoms2twins]

for those who have participated in couples counseling and or those familial with insurance.
If its couples counseling do they bill each of our insurance? or just one of ours? seems like this could be slippery slope?
just wondering because we only have 20 visits each  and i am just thinking that it could be 40 total if this is managed correctly  but i dunno. Seeing as we need a couples session and then each an individual session which i am willing to forgo my indiv session cuz couples is a YES an DW session for the issues is also a yes?

so far seems either no one takes our insurance or no of the therapist are taking on new clients.  LOVELY

[twotrue]

Mar 25, 2013 14:41:32 GMT -5 twomoms2twins said:

for those who have participated in couples counseling and or those familial with insurance.
If its couples counseling do they bill each of our insurance? or just one of ours? seems like this could be slippery slope?
just wondering because we only have 20 visits each  and i am just thinking that it could be 40 total if this is managed correctly  but i dunno. Seeing as we need a couples session and then each an individual session which i am willing to forgo my indiv session cuz couples is a YES an DW session for the issues is also a yes?

so far seems either no one takes our insurance or no of the therapist are taking on new clients.  LOVELY

First you need to find out if your insurance covers marriage/couples counseling.  Many do not.  And if they do cover couples counseling then you need them to clarify if you have a total of 20 visits for the entire plan or 20 each.  You might have 20 each for individual but not for couples.

Second, ask them to give you a list of therapists on the plan.  Start with calling those first so that you at least know they take the insurance.

[kershnic]

Usually they charge one insurance or the other - and would be willing to charge whichever insurance is more favorable for you. Don't discount your own mental health though! You're just as in this as she is, but something free like an al-anon support group may be able to meet your individual needs depending on how you're doing.

[seattlekari]

Mar 25, 2013 15:25:45 GMT -5 twotrue said:

Mar 25, 2013 14:41:32 GMT -5 twomoms2twins said:

for those who have participated in couples counseling and or those familial with insurance.
If its couples counseling do they bill each of our insurance? or just one of ours? seems like this could be slippery slope?
just wondering because we only have 20 visits each  and i am just thinking that it could be 40 total if this is managed correctly  but i dunno. Seeing as we need a couples session and then each an individual session which i am willing to forgo my indiv session cuz couples is a YES an DW session for the issues is also a yes?

so far seems either no one takes our insurance or no of the therapist are taking on new clients.  LOVELY

First you need to find out if your insurance covers marriage/couples counseling.  Many do not.  And if they do cover couples counseling then you need them to clarify if you have a total of 20 visits for the entire plan or 20 each.  You might have 20 each for individual but not for couples.

Second, ask them to give you a list of therapists on the plan.  Start with calling those first so that you at least know they take the insurance.

Ditto what Twotrue said, your insurance company should have a list of covered providers. And they will only charge one insurance (not both of you) but you need to find out the coverage as Two stated. You may be able to stretch your coverage further for more sessions between both of your policies, but the insurance company should know how you can work that.

[joymseattle]

I agree with the advice you've been given and will add the recommendation to pursue this regardless of coverage. C and I have seen counselors at an LGBTQ counseling center and a private counselor at different times due to finances. At the center it was based on income and the private practice counselor did a reduced fee for us (we were having challenges that were exacerbated by C's lay off and money was tight). I prioritize spending to that I can afford to pay OOP for acupuncture, massage (occasionally) and now chiro (due to pregnancy discomforts), because without them I don't feel as good physically. I see mental health counseling as valuable and worth the cost. As harsh as it may sound, it's usually a lot cheaper to see a counselor than a divorce attorney.

[twomoms2twins]

Thank you so much for your feedback .. I am not discounting that i need my own sessions but I am able to express my thoughts and feeling so pretty much anyone ... so sharing is not an issue for me and at this time i am not the priority so to speak. I spent pretty much half my life in therapy so I'm pretty good but eventually i would like to get back.

[rikkiandjulie]

Our insurance covers. We pay $40 a session. We get 22.