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Superbills |
Superbill Example
A superbill is a detailed receipt you can submit to your insurance provider to seek reimbursement. You pay your therapist directly and are reimbursed a portion by your insurance later
Do you accept my insurance?
Short answer: no. Long answer: No, but I can provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance and you may get reimbursed for some or all of what you have paid.
If we work together, you pay me directly for therapy services. Your credit card on file is charged on the day of your scheduled session. That makes me an “out of network provider” meaning I am not contracted with your insurance and reimbursement is not guaranteed unless specifically outlined in your policy. If you are hoping to be reimbursed for therapy services, I encourage you to call your insurance directly to inquire about your out of network coverage before beginning services.
What questions should I ask my insurance?
Call the number on the back of your health insurance card and ask for “member services." Ask these questions to verify out-of-network coverage:
- What is my yearly deductible? Has it been met or how much more until my deductible is met?
- How many sessions per year does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance plan reimburse for an out-of-network provider for CPT code 90834 (for individual services) or CPT code 90847 (for couple's services)?
- Does my insurance plan cover Z codes for couples therapy?
- What is my co-payment?
- Do I need prior authorization?
- Do I need approval from my primary care provider?
- How do I submit a superbill? Is there an online portal or do I have to mail or fax a copy?
- What is the time limit to submit a superbill?
What can you expect after submitting a superbill?
It can typically take your health insurance 2-4+ weeks to process your superbill. They will either pay the full amount of services minus your copay, or they will put this amount towards your deductible. If your superbill is denied, call your insurance and request information about the denial.
Why don't you accept insurance?
Short answer: I am employed by Center for Mindful Psychotherapy and the agency does not bill insurance. Long answer: You may have noticed it is difficult to find a therapist that fits your needs and takes your insurance AND has availability. Insurance companies are notoriously difficulty to work with and also generally do not provide psychotherapists a living wage. I do deeply care about making therapy accessible and deeply care about paying rent and being able to enjoy my life. I do reserve 25% or more of my weekly sessions as sliding scale spots in an imperfect attempt at balancing these interests. Wondering more about the costs of therapy services? I like this blog and this blog on the topic. You can also use this tool to see what psychotherapy (CPT code 90834) costs on average in your area.
If you are searching for sliding-scale therapists please see:
OpenPath Collective (You can choose you own therapist. Clinicians charge a max of $60 for individuals and $80 for couples)
Pacific Center (serving the LGBTQQIA community)
Queer Life Space (serving the LGBTQQIA community)
The Liberation Institute (fees starts at $1)
The Wright Institute Clinic
JFK Counseling Center
Church Street Integral Counseling Center
The Psychotherapy Institute
The Alchemy Institute
Alchemy Therapy
Fees
Individual Therapy - $180 per 50 minute weekly session
Partners, Families, Groups - $200 per 50 minute weekly session ***Sliding scale spots currently full. ***Individual sessions are provided during a regular weekly appointment. I do not provide every-other-week or as-needed therapy sessions at the moment. |
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.
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Stephanie Bain (she/her/hers)
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT #126452 stephaniebaintherapy@gmail.com | 1-510-545-9329 445 Bellevue Ave, #6B, Oakland, 94610 Supervised by Anna Howland, LMFT 99026 Employed by Center for Mindful Psychotherapy |
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