Jodi Blackley MFT 909.287.3624 | Orange County, CA

Often, I get calls from potential clients asking if I take insurance. I am only contracted with the CIGNA panel. I honestly believe there are more risks than benefits to using insurance in counseling. You’re probably thinking, "Why shouldn't I use my insurance?" The answer isn't necessarily so black-and-white. It is best you understand the risks and benefits of using health insurance therapy before making a decision that may have negative consequences.

The Benefits

• Your insurance can pay for a good portion of your therapy.
• Your insurance may pay for all of your therapy!                                                                     
• You pay for your premiums and have the right to use your benefits whenever possible.

The Risks

• Insurance panels won't pay for relationship issues, such as communication skills, parenting skills or pre-marital counseling. They base claims on "medical necessity" and will only pay for therapy if you qualify for a mental disorder diagnosis, such as Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder or an Anxiety Disorder, which I have to disclose to your insurance panel to get reimbursed. The insurance company requires I focus on alleviating the symptoms associated with the diagnosis instead of the goals you are hoping to accomplish in therapy. I don't really want the diagnosis to be the focus of your therapy.
• Your level of privacy is compromised. If you are trying to apply for life/disability insurance/private health insurance, these companies require access to any prior health information, which can impact your premiums as well as whether or not you'll even qualify for the insurance.
• I might have to discuss your therapy with a case manager and justify why continued sessions are necessary. This means the insurance company decides whether they will continue to pay for your therapy. I don't want your therapy to be dictated by someone who doesn't know you or your issues.
• Your insurance company may require you to have an assessment for medications or they can cease to authorize sessions. This may not be necessary for the issues we're working on.
• In a court proceeding, medical records could get subpoenaed, including your mental health records.

What This Means to You

If you want to keep your issues private and the paper trail to a minimum, you will want to look at the risks and benefits of using your insurance to subsidize your therapy and decide if it is the right way to pay for your counseling. I can appreciate you may feel like therapy can become very expensive. Generally, this isn't true. Many clients experience some improvement fairly quickly--within 8 to 20 sessions.

So call me today and we can discuss which option is best for you!