Fees and Insurance
Fees
I use a sliding scale formula to eliminate the discomfort of negotiating and be fair to everyone who sees me. Please call me for a specific quote.
To make it easy to get acquainted, the fee is $75 for the first office visit for non-insurance clients, if we decide to meet.
If I'm on your insurance company's provider panel, you only make a co-payment. If your insurer declines payment you'll only pay $75 for the first visit. If the insurer charges the allowed amount to your deductible instead of paying, I'll only charge the contracted amount.
Insurance and Third-Party Payment
To be covered by your insurer check below to see if I am on your panel. If unsure please contact your insurer and ask. I am on the following panels as an in-network provider (included panels are highlighted in boldfaced type).
- Blue Shield Commercial PPO/EPO: Blue Shield Standard Network, (not Networks A, B or C)
- Blue Shield Commercial HMO
- Blue Shield Healthy Families (Both HMO and PPO).
To avoid further discounted payments, I do not accept Blue Shield Commercial PPO/EPO (Blue Shield Networks A, B or C), Blue Shield Medicare PPO/Medicare Advantage PPO. Please check your insurance card or call Blue Shield of California if unsure about coverage.
I do not accept Medi-Cal.
Other insurance issues. Insurance plans differ. Some limit the number of visits per week or year, require pre-authorization or only cover certain major mental health diagnoses, called "parity" conditions — and I must diagnose objectively. They may require you to share the cost of your visits (co-pay), which would be specified in your plan. If you are depending on your coverage to pay for my services, and many do, please ask them for such details before meeting with me, so you can be fully informed.
Out of network? Some insurers reimburse psychotherapy with out-of-network providers. If I am not on your panel, you might ask if they will add me. Otherwise, please bring me the insurance forms. I will fill out simple receipts or provide a receipt at no extra charge (unless they require a detailed report) to help you get reimbursed. When you ask an insurer or other third party to pay for your psychotherapy, they'll require that you grant them the right to review your medical records.
Clients seeking out-of-network coverage are responsible for paying me directly, and I am not responsible for transactions between you and a third-party payer. You are responsible to pay if your insurance company denies coverage.