Questions to ask of your provider:
1. How many sessions are allowed per calendar year, and how is that number determined? Specifically, do you need to have a diagnosis that signifies “medical necessity” or “parity” in order to continue treatment beyond the initial number of sessions allotted to all members?
2. Is your mental healthcare provider required to submit paperwork in order to request additional sessions beyond the initial number allotted to all members?
3. What is your co-pay and will it change depending on the number of sessions? Sometimes the co-pay is different for psychotherapy visits than for medical visits.
4. Do you have a deductible (an amount of money you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage begins)? If so, what is the amount? How often do you start over? Some plans have a deductible for every calendar year, such that you start over every January and have to pay the deductible amount out of pocket again before the coverage resumes.
5. If your insurance is new due to a change in your work or school status, does your insurance plan include a waiting period before coverage begins? If yes, how long is it?
6. If applicable, will your coverage continue after you leave the job or school through which you have insurance? If yes, for how long?