My rates are as follows.

up to $350 for a 45-minute individual appointment.

up to $400 for a 60-minutes couples therapy appointment.

I have a sliding scale fee schedule based on one’s annual income. If you pursue this option, I can provide your estimated fee during your phone consultation.

Cash. Check. Venmo. Zelle.

I also accept major credit cards and HSA cards.

Yes, as an out-of-network provider. I strive to submit out-of-network claims on behalf of my clients once every 1-2 weeks; at the end of the week.

On rare occasion, an insurance carrier does not accept my claims (or any out-of-network claims). I make every attempt to enroll in their system. And in cases (<5%) where my claims continue to be rejected, I am happy to offer a super bill.

To qualify, see whether your insurance plan is a PPO (vs. HMO or EPO). PPO insurance plans have out-of-network benefits, which means that a significant portion of your fee can be covered once your deductible is met.

If you have an HMO insurance plan, your coverage is not likely to include any out-of-network benefits. This means you would have to pay for my services out-of-pocket.

Ordinarily, yes. However, I submit all of my clients’ billing paperwork to their health insurance carriers, and am often able to resolve any insurance issues by interfacing with their representatives myself. My clients appreciate this for several reasons: 1) they do not have to submit any paperwork to their insurance carriers: 2) they are only responsible for paying their deductible and co-insurance; and 3) they do not have to interface with their insurance for any reason.

With your birthdate and insurance ID, and your written consent to have access to your insurance information, I can have access to your basic insurance benefits. Most providers place the burden of insurance on their clients, and expect a full fee after each visit. That’s not an issue my clients have to experience.

If you are wanting to know the net cost once your insurance has been applied, it is easiest and most efficient for you to reach out to the customer representative of your insurance plan. Please read the insurance walkthrough for detailed guidance.

Sure. I get this question all the time. Please bear with me on the details.

In order for your out-of-network insurance benefits to apply, you have to pay up to your deductible each year. That means if you have a $500 out-of-network deductible, you need to pay up to $500 in out-of-network services in order to take advantage of your benefits. What is your out-of-network deductible? There is a wide range — from $0 to $4000 and up. And please note that deductibles reset at the end of each calendar year.

Once this out-of-network deductible is met, you are responsible for paying the co-insurance, or a percentage of the overall fee. If your co-insurance is 10%, and we agree that your sliding scale session cost is $200, then you are responsible for paying $20 for each visit. Like the deductible, co-insurance rates vary widely — between 0% and 50%. What is your co-insurance?

Other considerations. Some health insurance plans establish an “allowable charge,” an amount that a health insurance carrier will reimburse for a certain medical expense based on the zip code of your therapist’s practice (10010). For example, one health insurance carrier (outside of NYC) asserted an “allowable charge” of $129. This means that $129 (of the session fee) is paid towards the deductible, and that the health insurance’s reimbursement rate of 65% is out of $129 (even if your session rate is $350).

Many insurance plans have an “allowable charge” that equals my full rate. It’s worth checking in with your insurance. Does your health insurance plan have an allowable charge for a 45-minute psychotherapy visit (CPT code: 90834)? If so, what is it for a therapist who has a practice in the 10010 zip code?

Lastly, most plans have an out-of-pocket maximum. This is the maximum amount you are expected to pay for your medical services in a calendar year. Please consider the allowable charge in out-of-pocket maximum calculations.