Financial Policies
Jennifer Whitlock’s fee is $200 for an intake session and $150 per session thereafter. Most clients pay less than this amount because Insurance covers part of it, or the client and the provider negotiate a sliding scale fee, if the client qualifies.
In-network benefits: Some insurance companies, such as Aetna, AmeriHealth, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, MHN (HealthNet), Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Magellan, QualCare and Value Options contract with Ms. Whitlock to be an in-network provider. That means they specify an amount the provider can charge, and they specify a co-pay that the insured must pay for services.
Out-of-network benefits: Other insurance companies, such as Cigna, United Behavioral Health and Oxford cover Jennifer Whitlock as an out-of-network provider. That means they pay for a percentage of the fee, and the co-insurance may be a little more than it would be if she were in-network. There may be a deductible. That means the insurance does not begin reimbursing your money until you have paid a designated amount out of pocket. Not all insurance plans pay for out of network providers. If you have a “PPO” or “POS” plan, there is a greater chance that you do have out-of-network benefits. An HMO plan is less likely to cover out-of-network benefits.
To determine whether Jennifer Whitlock, LPC is covered under your plan, and how much your copay is, you can call your insurance company at the number on the back of your card and ask the following questions:
- Do you cover Jennifer Whitlock, LPC as an in-network provider for mental health outpatient counseling in her Newton office? If she is in network, what is my deductible and copay? Do I need precertification?
- If she’s not in-network: Do I have out-of-network benefits?
- If so: How much does my plan pay for out-of-network services?
- Do I have a deductible that must be satisfied before payments are made? How much of my deductible has been paid so far?
- Do I need a preauthorization?
If Jennifer Whitlock, LPC is covered as an out-of-network provider, she will charge you the amount that you owe and submit the rest to insurance. Often insurance will send their portion directly to Ms. Whitlock. However, sometimes insurance companies send the money directly to the patient. In this case, it is your obligation to sign the check and write “pay to the order of Jennifer Whitlock” and forward it to our office. If you cash the check, you are responsible to pay the amount owed.
Please note, even if we accept your insurance plan, and even if your insurance company informs you Ms. Whitlock is an in-network provider, this does not guarantee your insurance will make a payment for mental health counseling services. Some policies will not cover treatment for specific diagnoses. Some insurance companies include Ms. Whitlock as an in-network provider in some of their policies and not others. Some insurance companies require a Ph.D. to provide services. You may not have paid your deductible, and you may have used up your benefits.
Patients or responsible parties are responsible for:
- Obtaining initial authorization and/or referrals from your primary care physician if required.
- Paying co-pays or co-insurances and deductibles, if applicable, at the beginning of your session.
- Paying the therapist’s standard rate ($200 for intake and $150 for sessions thereafter) if insurance denies payment for any reason. If you cannot afford this fee, inquire about whether you qualify for a sliding scale rate.
- Calling your insurance carrier if you have any questions regarding your insurance policy, coverage and benefits. We do not know the specifics of every insurance plan.
- Timely payment of outstanding balances. We will send bills at 30 day intervals. Any outstanding balances beyond 90 days may be sent to a collection agency. At that time, you will be responsible to pay all fees charged by the collection agency, including legal fees.
- Attending each session on time or cancelling or rescheduling at least 24 hours in advance. Failure to show up for a scheduled appointment or to notify our office within 24 hours will result in a charge of $50 for the missed session. Your insurance company does not cover this fee. In the event of inclement weather, our office will call you if your appointment is cancelled. If we do not call you, you are expected to be here for your visit. Remember that your session has been scheduled for you and you alone. No other patient can be scheduled or seen during your time slot.
We are happy to accept checks for payment. However, if the check is returned to us for non-payment, a $20 fee will be charged per returned check to cover costs.
Any phone consultations that go beyond scheduling matters or a brief exchange of information will be charged a fee of $30 per 15 minute increments.
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