Frequently Asked Questions:
1. How do I contact a therapist to find out if we would be a good fit?
Right here! We employ a number of therapists with a wide variety of specialties and want to make sure we match you with the right one for your needs.
2. What kinds of clients do you see?
We work virtually with anyone in New York state who wants to make changes in their lives. We work with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, relationship challenges, self-esteem issues, emotional eating, perinatal and postnatal challenges (including fertility, miscarriage, and post-partum issues), family discord (children, spouses, or other relatives), and grief. We also work with clients who are experiencing stress at work, looking to change jobs or careers, or feeling that while things are okay, they could be a lot better.
3. What is my investment?
Each session is 45-55 minutes long, depending on frequency and other factors you will discuss with your therapist during your intake. Many people find that their insurance companies cover part of their out of pocket fees, sometimes up to 100% depending on the benefits. Therapy costs are an investment in your physical, mental, and emotional health, and investing in this now will help you reap benefits that last long beyond your sessions!
4. I can't afford the session fee. Do you allow sliding scale payments?
In some circumstances, sliding scale payments may be accepted for clients in specific circumstances. Additionally, temporary sliding scale payments may be accepted for clients facing unexpected hardship. Please email contact@newyorkcitypsychotherapists.com to discuss requests or address with your existing therapist if you are already being seen.
We also take vouchers from the Loveland Foundation, which provides financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy.
5. Do you accept credit cards and HSA/FSA payments?
Yes, we accept all major debit/credit cards and as long as you can enter your HSA/FSA card number in the payment system like a debit/credit card, we can accept those payments. If you don’t have that option but would like us to provide you receipts for reimbursement, we can do that, as well.
6. Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes, we are an exclusively online therapy practice for your convenience. You’re busy and we want to make sure you can fit therapy into your demanding schedule, and we want to ensure everyone’s safety as we navigate this rapidly changing world. Our platforms are completely secure, HIPAA compliant, and easy to access from anywhere, including laptops, phones, and tablets.
7. What is your cancellation policy?
Once you find a mutually agreed upon appointment time(s), it is expected that you will be present for your scheduled appointments. Any cancellations under 48 hours’ notice will be charged the full fee of the session. Since insurance companies can’t reimburse for sessions that did not take place, you will be charged the full amount that we would normally submit to the insurance company for reimbursement - not just the insurance copay.
Of course, we understand that needing to reschedule or cancel a therapy session happens - after all, life can sometimes get in the way of our best intentions. With advanced notice, therapists will absolutely try to find another time to reschedule sessions within the week. Our policy is that 48 hours is a reasonable amount of time to have your therapist get back to you to reschedule your appointment and have time to fill your canceled slot with another client. Remember that your therapist holds this time specifically for you so that they can be ready and focused on you every week at that time.
Sometimes when therapy becomes challenging or hits upon an important topic, it can just feel easier to skip a week or put off a session because of how daunting it might feel to address what’s coming up for you. It can be helpful to your work in therapy to bring this urge up with your therapist and explore it. This commitment to “showing up” - on both sides - is what will bring about the best results for you!
8. Do you take insurance?
We are in network with Aetna (which includes both commercial and EAP plans), and all insurance plans under the Optum umbrella (which includes Optum, United, Oscar, and Oxford).
Insurance Coverage
Understanding your insurance benefits can be confusing and difficult. We want to help bring clarity and ease to your benefits. We have a dedicated insurance biller who handles all billing questions and issues that can arise with insurance coverage.
In-Network
In-network means that we are part of an insurance company’s network of providers. As part of our contract with the insurer, we have a set agreement and standard set of rates for therapeutic services. However, not all therapists are contracted with all plans insurance companies. Please check with us that your desired provider accepts your insurance plan. With in-network plans, we can quickly verify your benefits and give you detailed information on what you can expect to pay based on your unique plan.
Deductible
Your specific insurance plans may have a deductible – a set amount of money you are expected to pay before your insurer will start chipping in for your healthcare. Your deductible accumulates throughout the year across the various healthcare services you receive, e.g., your primary care, specialty care, etc. Once you’ve reached this pre-set amount, your copay or co-insurance becomes your responsibility. Deductibles reset each year, either at the start of the calendar year or the insurance plan year (e.g., Nov-Nov). It is helpful to know when your deductible restarts so you can plan accordingly.
Co-Insurance and Co-pay
Once your deductible has been met, a co-insurance amount or co-pay amount will be assigned to each service. For co-insurance, this is the percentage of the bill that you are financially responsible for. For example, if you have a 20% co-insurance, you will pay 20% of each session bill and your insurance company will cover the other 80%. Co-pays are a pre-set amount for office visits that are not percentage based. Co-pays are generally between $20-$50 per session.
Out-of-Network
Out-of-network means that we do not have a contract with your insurance company. For these plans, you are responsible to pay the full cost of your session on the day of service. Generally insurance plans with out-of-network benefits reimburse somewhere between 60-80% of what’s called the usual and customary rate (UCR). The UCR may be similar or different to our fees, so we recommend that you confirm the reasonable rate your specific plan uses.
We use a program called Nirvana to help you verify your benefits, but sometimes you may still have to call your insurance company directly for the clearest information. On your membership card, you have a members services number which gives you detailed answers about your mental healthcare benefits. Here are some helpful questions to ask:
What are my out-of-network mental health benefits for an office visit?
Does that differ if it is in-person or telehealth and do you cover telehealth?
What is my out-of-network deductible, and has it been met? When does it restart?
What is a reasonable rate for billing code 90791 (the initial consult)?
What is a reasonable rate for billing code 90834 (a 45-minutes session)?
What is a reasonable rate for billing code 90837 (a 55-60 minute session)?
What is a reasonable rate for billing code 90847 (a couples or family session)?
They will tell you the percentage of the reasonable rate they reimburse. If you gather this information and are still confused, we can talk you through what it all means.
Self-Pay Rates
90791 (the initial consult): $175
90834 (a 45-minutes session): $175
90837 (a 55-60 minute session): $185
90847 (a couples or family session): $200
Superbill
We provide monthly superbills for self-pay clients, which can be submitted to insurance for reimbursement. A superbill has the required information your insurance provider needs when you submit a claim for reimbursement. The superbill will include your name, your provider’s name, your provider’s employment identification number, your provider’s National Provider Identifier number, the code(s) for your diagnosis, the code(s) for any services, the date of your appointment (date of service), and the total amount of the bill.
Out-of-Pocket Limit
An out-of-pocket limit is the maximum amount of your own money you will have to pay for care during the year. Think of the out-of-pocket limit as your deductible + coinsurance + copayments (if your plan has them) up to a total dollar amount. After you spend the out-of-pocket limit, your insurance company pays 100% of the cost.
Good Faith Estimate
Good Faith Estimate for your care: Under the law (§ 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act) health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. You have a right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency services. You can ask me for a Good Faith Estimate in writing before you schedule a service. Make sure to save a copy of your Good Faith Estimate. For more information visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.
If you are unsure about your benefits, we can help you quickly determine your reimbursement rate. Please don't hesitate to ask! Many clients get a percentage of their fees reimbursed even before they meet their deductible, and often receive 100% reimbursement once they meet their deductible. You can also use your health savings account to pay for sessions. In addition, even if you don't file with your insurance company for reimbursement, you may be able to write sessions off on your taxes as a medical expense.
