What do you charge?
My fee is $200 per 60-minute session. I keep a credit card on file in my HIPAA-compliant patient portal, and your card will automatically be charged overnight on the day of each session. Should you choose to pay by cash, I also accept Zelle and Venmo.
I don't accept insurance, but I work with Mentaya, a platform that helps clients get money back on out-of-network therapy sessions. If you have out-of-network benefits, Mentaya will file claims and handle the insurance paperwork to make sure you get reimbursed. They charge a 5% fee per claim and have helped people get thousands of dollars back per year. You can sign up using this link:
https://mentaya.com/inviteclient/kristenjacobsenlcpc
Note: Mentaya's goal is to save you time and money. It's completely optional, and as your therapist I do not benefit in any way from your participation.
Do you take insurance?
I do not take insurance because research suggests that if patients invest time, money, and emotional effort in therapy, they will be more likely to work hard to reach their therapeutic goals in order to justify their efforts.
Health insurance companies often dictate the type, length, and number of sessions clients are able to access and prevent me from ensuring therapy meets the needs of the client first and foremost.
I have intentionally chosen NOT to be paneled with insurance providers so that I am able to focus on mental health and client experience over billing codes and the profit margins of corporations.
Should you choose to use insurance, you may be eligible for out-of-network health insurance benefits. Here is how you use them:
Pay the full session fee at your therapy session.
a. Use Mentaya to submit the claim for you (https://mentaya.com/inviteclient/kristenjacobsenlcpc)
b. Or mail, fax, or submit a claim online to your insurance company. The claim may be submitted in aggregate every month (this is referred to as a superbill). I will provide this to you monthly, upon request.
The insurance company will send you a reimbursement in the form of a check.
As a result of the reimbursement from your insurance company, you ultimately pay only a set percentage of the session fee (for example, 30% of the session fee).
For more information about how insurance companies can impede services, read this article from NAMI.
What are the benefits of seeing an out-of-network therapist?
You may consider seeing an out-of-network therapist if:
You’re looking for a therapist with a unique skill set or a specific niche
You want highly personalized services (more time and creativity crafting a specialized treatment plan)
You don’t want a limited number of sessions (some insurance plans only allow a certain number of sessions per year)
You have a high deductible plan (A deductible is the amount you have to pay upfront before your insurance coverage kicks in. If you have a $5,000 deductible and you haven’t had any other medical expenses yet in the year, you are responsible for paying up to $5,000 in therapy session fees out-of-pocket before your standard copay applies. This is a case where seeing an in-network therapist and out-of-network therapist can accrue similar costs).
You have good out-of-network benefits (If you have good out-of-network benefits, your insurance company may reimburse you as much as 80% of each session fee, depending on your plan. This means that in some situations, using your out-of-network benefits can actually be more affordable or comparable to your standard copay to see an in-network therapist).
You don’t wish to use insurance benefits (due to privacy from insurance companies or family)
You don’t want to wait to start therapy (waiting lists are currently quite long for in-network providers)
You found a great match (your relationship with your therapist is one of the most important aspects of the healing process)
You don’t want a diagnosis in your medical record (insurance companies require a diagnostic code from providers when submitting claims/superbills)
You’re applying for life or disability insurance and don’t want a mental health diagnosis that may limit coverage
You intend to go into the military or police department and don’t want a diagnosis on record
How do I check my out-of-network benefits?
The best way to be absolutely sure of your benefits is to call your insurance company member services line and ask:
What is my out-of-network deductible for outpatient mental health?
How much of my deductible has been met this year?
What is my out-of-network coinsurance for outpatient mental health (CPT codes 90791 & 90837)?
Do I need a referral from an in-network provider to see someone out-of-network?
How do I submit claim forms for reimbursement?
Good Faith Estimate
Beginning January 1, 2022, you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services.
You may request a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.
*Please note: My fee is the same for all of my therapy sessions ($200 per 60 minutes), so this would apply to any additional services that would be prorated out in 15-minute increments. You can find my Consultation Guide for my free 15-minute video consults here.
