Insurance Insurance Companies that I work with directly are:
Blue Shield of California
Anthem Blue Cross CA
Oscar Health
Oxford
Aetna
Cigna
If you have insurance that I don't work directly with but you have a PPO plan and would like to use your out of network benefits for my services, see the information and directions below. Filing Your Insurance Claim
Clients pay Sara Cole for services at each session). If requested I will provide you with a superbill showing each session and date.
To file a claim with your insurance company:
Obtain a copy of your insurance company's claim form. Fully complete your portion of the form. Attach superbills to the claim form. Mail directly to your insurance company.
CONFIRMING COVERAGE for MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
To determine if your insurance will cover your counseling: 1. Look up the information in your insurance benefits manual/website.
OR
2. Call the company directly to ask them. The phone number will be on your insurance card, usually on the back.
Mental health services are sometimes covered at a different rate than medical services. Rates also differ for Outpatient (seen in an office like mine) and Inpatient (admitted to a hospital program).
If your insurance plan is an HMO you can only see therapists on their network list. They will not cover therapists outside of their network.
If your insurance plan is a PPO you can see therapists who are not on their network list, but coverage will be at a lower rate.
You will want to record the following information in case you have trouble getting reimbursement in the future:
Name of Insurance Customer Rep you spoke to _______________________ Date & time of call ______________ Deductible for Policy $________ (amount of bills you must pay before your insurance provides coverage). Amount insurance will pay each visit for mental health services $______ Maximum visits allowed per calendar year for mental health services _____ Maximum paid per calendar year for mental health services $_______ Ask if they cover the DSM diagnosis code of _______________ (You may have received a preliminary dx code from your therapist).
Ask the insurance company to send you their claim form or print it yourself from their website. Get the mailing address since you will be submitting this claim form to the insurance company.
Claim form - fill out the patient information. Attach the superbills to the middle portion. You attach 4 or 5 superbills to the claim form and mail it to the insurance company.