+ What are your fees?

Individual and Family Counseling Sessions (50 minutes): $120

+ Do you take insurance?

I am an in-network provider for:

United Healthcare

Cigna

At this time, Ashland Family Counseling is an out-of-network provider for all other insurance plans. Some plans will cover a portion of out-of-network counseling/psychotherapy sessions (sometimes after a co-pay).

COURTESY BILLING

Many times, we can submit a receipt of services (Superbill) with all of the necessary information for reimbursement to your insurance provider for you.

You would pay Ashland Family Counseling directly for your counseling services following your appointment, and then wait for reimbursement from your insurance provider. This can save you time dealing with the insurance provider and allow you to focus on what you’re working on in counseling.

For information about reimbursement rates, contact your insurance provider about your specific out-of-network benefits. Here are some helpful questions to ask your health insurance representative to clarify your out-of-network benefits:

• Does my coverage include mental health services?

• Does my coverage include seeing an out-of-network provider?

• Do I need a referral from my primary care physician to access my out-of-network benefits?

• Is a specific diagnosis required for me to be reimbursed?

• What is my deductible and must it be met before mental health services are covered?

• How many sessions per year are covered by my health insurance plan?

• What is the amount of coverage per counseling session if I submit a Superbill? Is there anything else I will need to submit with the Superbill?

• What credentials does a provider need to have in order for me to be reimbursed? (Ben is an LPC)

IS USING INSURANCE FOR THERAPY ALWAYS THE BEST OPTION?

There are several reasons why you might choose not to use your insurance benefits for therapy. When you are billing insurance companies as an in-network provider, it’s like bringing the insurance company into the counseling office.

• They get to question the diagnosis and treatment plan that we decide on.

• They might only reimburse for a certain number of sessions, and that number might be less than what would be most effective.

• Your insurance company can also have access to notes from your sessions, which can feel like an invasion of privacy.

• Using insurance to cover your counseling requires a diagnosis for the insurance company, which can have a lasting impact on your life or your child’s life.

For example, having a mental health diagnosis can increase life insurance rates.

+ What types of payment do you accept?

Payment is required at the end of each session. We accept all major credit cards, checks and cash, as well as HSA and FSA cards.

Session fees will be charged promptly at the end of each appointment. If you need a Superbill for your session, and I am not able to submit that myself, it will be emailed to you that day.

+ Is my payment secure?

Electronic payments will be processed through Stripe. Your transaction is encrypted and secured. All information, including your credit card, is transferred only over HTTPS with up to 256-bit encryption.

+ What is your cancellation policy?

Please give 24 hours notice if you need to miss or reschedule an appointment.

No-call and no-shows will be charged a $40 fee.

If your child gets sick the morning of your appointment, please call or text and let me know and we will reschedule.

+ What kind of tech do I need to do counseling online?

To do an online session, all you need is a computer, tablet or phone and a good internet connection. Headphones that plug into your device are also helpful.

Following scheduling, you will receive an email with a unique link to our secure video chat software. I will join the chat at our appointment time and we will have our virtual session.

More questions about online counseling? Call me at (573) 250-2210 or email me at ben@ashlandfamilycounseling.com

+ How do you keep my information private and confidential?

Confidentiality is of the utmost importance to me. Every piece of software that I use from our phone system, email software, to the client portal you'll use to schedule and make payments complies with HIPAA regulations, which are the federal policies for handeling or sharing an individual's identifying information, specifically their medical or health information. I would be happy to provide more details about this for you.

The fact that you are seeing me for counseling is not something that I am able to disclose to anyone, except in some very specific situations, which we will also discuss during our first appointment.

What happens if I see you out and about in Ashland/Columbia/Jeff City/the Missouri State Fair?

We will talk about this in our first session. Don't take it personally, but in public, I will not acknowledge that I know you. If you choose, you can approach me.

I will not be offended if you ignore me!