Insurance + Fees
Payment of fees is expected at the time of each appointment unless other arrangements have been made with your counselor. We request that payment be made before your session begins.
We accept cash, check, and all major credit cards, including medical flex spending account cards. If you have a credit card on file with us, you can expect for your account to be billed on the Monday following your session.
We are primarily a private pay facility; however, we will work with insurance companies as out-of-network providers. By being out-of-network vs. in-network providers, we are able to ensure a greater level of confidentiality for our clients and drastically reduce the paperwork for our clinicians.
If you choose to use the out-of-network option, full payment is due at the time of service, and we will provide you with a super-bill or specialized statement of services rendered that you can use to file your own claim. In this case, reimbursement will be made from the insurance provider directly to the client. It is important that you contact your insurance provider before your first appointment to determine if you need to have pre-approval for your sessions. Our office manager or intake coordinator will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding this procedure.
Please note that we are also willing to negotiate our fees when necessary and appropriate. You may contact our intake coordinator for more information regarding reduced fees and alternate payment options.
Live Well + Thrive
Begin your journey toward wellness at the Banyan Tree today!
What are the major differences between private pay and using insurance?
Self-Pay
Complete confidentiality: Your case record is the property of the center; information would only be released if legally required or you gave your consent.
Type of treatment: Treatment can focus both on specific crises and on changing long-term patterns.
Unlimited number of sessions: You won't need to worry about being denied sessions; because treatment can be growth-oriented, there is no time limit.
Life insurance policies: No medical record will exist that could interfere in gaining other policies.
Payment: Many times, fees can be equal to a co-pay that increases over time; if a pre-tax account is used, you may even pay less than some co-pays (see below).
Medical expenses flex account: Some employers allow you to set aside annual pre-tax dollars to pay for medical expenses, which can reduce your costs for counseling even more; depending on your tax bracket, you could save approximately 25% of the cost of treatment; check with your employer to see if they offer such a plan, as many require sign up at the beginning of the year.
Insurance
Lack of confidentiality: A case manager and billing staff at the insurance company will be aware of your diagnosis and treatment plan; many mental health benefits are also contingent on periodic updates from your therapist; your therapy may become part of your permanent medical record.
Type of treatment: Treatment is crisis-oriented and required to be brief, focused, and behavioral only; growth-oriented treatment is not covered.
Limited number of sessions: A case manager at the insurance company will decide how many sessions are covered; longer-term treatment is only allowed if it's "medically necessary" with a more serious diagnosis, and your mental health contract still determines the maximum number of sessions covered.
Possible denial of life insurance: Some life insurance policies have been denied to those using their mental health coverage, which is seen as a risk.
Initial low co-pay: Many mental health plans do offer a low co-pay; however, a large deductible may first need to be paid out-of-pocket and/or the co-pay may increase over time.