Office Hours
Appointments are offered Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 9am and 5pm or Friday 9am and 3pm either via remote sessions within Illinois & Florida or at my Northbrook office when I return to in office sessions.
FAQ About Fees
What Are Your Fees For Therapy?
The first assessment session is $195 as it is longer than regular sessions.
Subsequent sessions are $160 for 45 minute sessions and $195 for 55 minute sessions.
Fees for in office and remote sessions are the same.
What Types Of Payment Do You Accept?
Major Credit Cards, HSA and FSA Cards, Checks and Cash are accepted as payment.
Payment is due at each appointment.
Many of my clients keep their credit card details on file using my Chase Bank secure online credit card processing account which means that payment for your appointment is conveniently done online so I don’t need to manually swipe your card at each session.
Do You Take Insurance?
I am not an In Network provider with any insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. However, many PPO insurance plans allow you to see an Out of Network provider and if you have PPO insurance you may be eligible to get some of the cost of sessions reimbursed.
Scroll down the page to see the questions to ask your insurance company to find out your Out of Network mental health coverage.
HMO insurance policies, Medicaid and Medicare typically do not cover anything if you see an Out of Network provider.
Why Are You Out of Network?
I am an Out of Network provider with insurance companies for several reasons:
Insurance companies have standardized reimbursement rates regardless of a therapist’s experience. This controls costs for the insurance companies of course, but is challenging for therapists, like myself, who have years of experience and have invested time and resources in becoming specialists in their areas of expertise, to be paid the same as a newly graduated therapist. No matter what some therapists may write on their websites, no one can be a specialist just out of college.
The requirement for a diagnosis: In order for an insurance plan to pay for therapy services you need a diagnosis code which states you are experiencing a clinical level of mental health symptoms as measured by the DSM 5. Many of my clients want to meet with me because they want to make changes in their life or gain a greater understanding of how to improve their relationships or difficult life events, not because they meet the criteria for a mental health diagnosis.
Confidentiality: Some of my clients do meet the criteria for a mental health diagnosis but prefer to have the details of their treatment with me separate from their insurance/medical record as in some cases it may affect eligibility for health insurance in the future or difficulty obtaining term life insurance.
Please note, you are able to pay for therapy services directly with your FSA or HSA cards, which permits you to pay for medical services with pre-tax employment funds. You are not required to provide a mental health diagnosis to your insurance company to utilize this form of payment.
Limitations of treatment: When a provider is In Network with insurance companies they can dictate your treatment plan and how many sessions you are allowed, regardless of the progress that you are making. I feel that the course and length of therapy is uniquely related to you and your concerns and shouldn’t be dictated by your insurance company. If you see an In Network provider your insurance company can require private information about the content of our sessions. These are not required when you see an Out of Network provider.
What Do I Do If I Want To Use My Insurance For Our Sessions?
I can supply you with a statement called a Superbill which is a detailed receipt that you submit to your insurance company yourself. It has the date of service, type of service (CPT code), your diagnosis code and the fee you paid. This is all the correct information you need to submit a claim to your insurance company for any Out Of Network reimbursement you qualify for if you meet your insurance’s criteria.
If you have Out of Network benefits and you would like me to submit your claim electronically on your behalf as a courtesy, please complete the Insurance Submission Form (on the Forms page). Again, you pay the full fee at the time of service and I submit the same information as is on a Superbill electronically including date of service, type of service (CPT code), your diagnosis code and the fee you paid. Your insurance company will then reimburse you directly anything you qualify for if once you have meet your insurance’s Out of Network criteria.
If you plan to seek reimbursement from your insurance benefits, you may want to call them prior to the first session (the telephone number to call is on the back of your insurance card) and ask the following questions:
- Do I have mental health benefits?
- Does my plan cover outpatient therapy with out-of-network Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors?
- Does my plan cover remote therapy via video or telephone sessions?
- Is there a limit on how much my plan covers for an out-of-network provider?
- What is my out-of-network deductible and has it been met this year?
- How/where do I send in the superbill my therapist gives me each month so I receive reimbursement or have the amount I paid applied to my out-of-network deductible?
- If applicable – Do my benefits cover marriage counseling?
I am happy to answer any questions you may have either by phone 847 791-7722 or via the form below.