Insurance & Fees

I am currently credentialed and accept the following insurance plans: PPO, HMO, EPO, POS, Indemity, ASO, HCA

• Anthem Blue Cross CA

• Aetna

• Carelon

• Cigna

• Optum

  • UnitedHealthCare (UHC)

  • Oxford

• Quest Behavioral California

• PENDING

  • Horizon Blue Cross & Blue Shield of New Jersey

  • Independence Blue Cross Pennsylvania

Insurance can be a valuable resource — but it comes with trade-offs worth understanding.

When using insurance:

• A mental health diagnosis is required and becomes part of your medical record

• Your information may be reviewed by non-clinical staff for billing purposes

• Coverage decisions can influence how often you’re seen and what treatments are approved

Because of this, many clients choose to pay out of pocket for greater privacy, flexibility, and control over their care.

Working outside of insurance allows for:

• More personalized and adaptable treatment

• No restrictions on session frequency or duration

• Greater discretion and confidentiality

• A focus on meaningful progress, not insurance requirements

For many clients — especially those with high deductibles — the upfront cost is often similar whether using insurance or not, at least initially.

Even if your insurance offers out-of-network benefits, it’s important to understand how your deductible affects your costs.

Many plans require you to meet your deductible first before any reimbursement begins. This means:

• You may pay the full session fee upfront until your deductible is met

• After that, your insurance may reimburse a percentage of each session (often 40–80%)

For some clients, this makes using insurance less helpful in the short term — especially if the deductible is high or the year is just beginning.

Because of this, I recommend calling your insurance provider ahead of time and asking:

• How much of my deductible has been met?

• What percentage will I be reimbursed after I meet it?

• Is there a maximum reimbursement per session?

This helps you make a clear, informed decision before starting care.

If you choose to use your out-of-network benefits, I provide a superbill after each session that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement.

To make this process easier, many clients choose to use a service like Mentaya.

Mentaya can:

• Check your out-of-network benefits in advance

• Estimate what your reimbursement will look like

• Submit claims on your behalf

• Track and follow up with insurance

This removes the guesswork and paperwork, and helps ensure you receive the reimbursement you're eligible for.

There is a small fee for this service, but many clients find it well worth the time saved and the increased likelihood of reimbursement.

Here’s how it works:

1. Visit Mentaya and enter your insurance information

2. They will check your out-of-network benefits and estimate your reimbursement

3. Once you begin care, you can upload your superbills or connect your account

4. Mentaya will handle claim submission and follow-up with your insurance

This allows you to understand your expected costs ahead of time and avoid dealing with insurance paperwork on your own.

You can get started here:
https://www.mentaya.com/

When to Do This

You can complete this step either:

• Before your first appointment — to understand your expected reimbursement and plan accordingly

• After your first visit — if you prefer to begin care right away and submit claims afterward

A Simple Way to Think About It

If you plan to use insurance at all, it’s worth taking a few minutes to check your benefits upfront.

Many clients find that having this clarity early on helps them feel more confident moving forward with care.

I believe in being clear and upfront about costs so you can make informed decisions about your care.

Session Fees:

Payment is collected at the time of service.

What You Can Expect to Pay

Your actual cost will depend on whether you choose to use out-of-network benefits and whether your deductible has been met.

In general:

• If your deductible has not been met, you can expect to pay the full session fee

  • For many clients, especially those with high deductibles, this means paying out of pocket initially is often no different — with fewer restrictions and more flexibility in care.

• If your deductible has been met, your insurance may reimburse a portion of each session (often 40–80%)

• Reimbursement amounts vary based on your specific plan

Finances should not impede personal growth; sliding scale fees are available for those who require assistance. 

In compliance with the “No Surprises Act” starting on 1/1/2022 “Good Faith Estimates” are available upon request and will be provided to all patients within 3 business days.