About Fees and Insurance

Because I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, my professional services qualify for patient reimbursement under most insurance plans. My fees are generally considered to be within the “usual and customary” range (UCR) by most insurance companies.

However, before making the decision to use your insurance coverage to reimburse you for therapy, please consider the following:

• Confidentiality:
  All insurance companies require some information about the reason for psychological treatment in order to process your claim. In addition, managed care plans often require detailed information regarding the problem for which you are seeking help, history, symptoms, family life, work life, and so on. The information is entered into increasingly large information systems, and current regulations are not strong in protecting confidentiality.
• Control of Treatment:
  Managed care companies use the information to decide if treatment is medically necessary, what kind of therapy is approved, and, later, if it should continue. Many of the insurance company employees who make these decisions have limited training, and of course have never met with you.
• Psychiatric Diagnosis:
  Health insurance is designed to pay for the treatment of illness. Therefore, a psychiatric diagnosis must be made before most insurance companies will pay.

Due to my commitment to confidentiality, and my belief that your therapy is yours, not that of your insurance company, I do not participate in managed care plans, nor do I accept assignment of benefits.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you have about fees and insurance.

Contact Duncan Krieger