Insurance information

Will insurance companies pay for counseling services?

The answer to this question is maybe. Every insurance company is different which means that some will pay for mental health services and some will not. The companies that will pay for mental health services may not necessarily pay for professional counselors. In other words, some may only foot the bill for psychiatrists, licensed psychologists, or social workers.

Although my office does not bill for insurance directly, that does not mean that insurance companies will not cover some or all of the cost. I am an out-of-network provider. This means that you (the client) are responsible for paying me directly for my services. If your insurance company is willing to pay for some or all of the cost, then you will be reimbursed by your insurance company.

How do I find out if my insurance company will pay for your services?

The easiest way to find out if your insurance company is willing to pay for my services is to call them directly. The number is usually located on the back of your insurance card. They will most likely want to know my credentials and what kind of treatment you are looking for. I would be more than happy to provide you with any information I can that may expedite this process.

My contact information is:

Nathan Comerford MA, LLPC, NCC
Office Phone: 248 932-7799
Fax: 248 932-0220
E-mail: questions@thoughtperspectives.com

Why I choose not to participate directly with insurance companies:

I have found that working directly with insurance companies can have several negative consequences on the treatment process. Unfortunately, it is the client who is seeking help that suffers the burden of those negative consequences. The consequences to which I am referring are:

1. Insurance companies tend to put limits on the treatment process which can act as a hindrance most of the time. For instance, they will decide how many sessions the client is allowed to have. Many times, they will only start the client out with 6-10 sessions. From a therapeutic standpoint, that is not enough sessions for most of the problems that I encounter with clients. The reason for this is for the insurance companies to keep costs they pay out to a minimum.

2. Another type of limit that insurance companies try to enforce is the treatment modality that is used. For example, I might find that reality therapy is working well with a particular client and the insurance company might say that I should be using cognitive-behavioral treatment. Many times this is another attempt to cut costs by suggesting a faster treatment method even though it may not be nearly as effective in the long run. The problem is that the insurance companies never see the client face-to-face which, in my opinion, nullifies their room for giving advice.

3. Client confidentiality is sacrificed over and over when dealing directly with the insurance companies. They will know everything that has been going on in treatment from the reviews I am required to do with them as well as from talking to you about your personal information. There is no sure way to know that their records will be kept safe and that the employees will not leak information. Insurance companies are usually large corporations which means that your information could be passing through the hands of countless individuals.