ski

I don't want to ask my co-workers due to the personal nature of wanting to see someone to talk to, so I'm hoping to get a general idea.

How are psychologist visits covered, if at all, by a typical health plan?

I have a standard Blue Cross/Blue Shield health plan with my large defense contractor company. Is it a co-pay? Has anyone paid full price out of pocket? How much is it?

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And closer...

avlena

Call your HR person. Our insurance covers mental health, and there's also a service that the company offers in addition. I'd imagine that stable employees is rather important to a defense company, so they probably have something.

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Have a groovy day!

Jeffbx

Yeah, the only way to know for sure it to either ask HR, or log onto the Blue Cross website & view your coverages.

InfiniteNothing

If it's an HMO you probably have to get a referral from your primary care physician.

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I guess that would mean turning signatures back on. I haven't had them on for ~2 years.

DarkFury

Honestly, it depends on your contract and your plan subscription.

I can only speak for the plan offered to Federal Employees... In that plan, psychiatric care is covered under the STANDARD OPTION plan.

http://www.anthem.com/fep/noapplicat...pw_a129870.pdf
(Go to page 81 in the booklet)

Under the STANDARD plan, the member pays a $15 copay with no deductible requirements. Under the BASIC plan, the member would have to pay a $20 copay to their primary physician or a $30 copay to a preferred psychiatrist plus a $40 copay for any outpatient services provided.

Personally, I always go with the STANDARD plan and I utilize a FSA (flexible spending account) to help cover the deductible amounts as necessary.

However, your contract with BCBS might be different. You need to go get a copy of your health contract and read the declarations as to psychiatric care.

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DarkFury

Blue Cross Blue Shield is not an HMO... it is generally a Fee for Service (FFS) type insurance where you don't have to get any referrals to go see a doctor.

However, it helps if your doctor commonly accepts BCBS because that will in turn reduce your out of pocket expenses due to their agreed upon "allowable charges" of which you probably will have to pay a percentage.

Here is a summary list of the definitions of the various types of health insurance plans out there:

http://www.anthem.com/fep/noapplicat...pw_a129890.pdf

Here is some more useful info:

http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/about/glossary.asp

hotbatch

Your insurance probably covers it, but even if it doesn't, if you really need to see a shrink it's worth the money.

Houdini

As a practicing shrink/psychiatrist (M.D.), and as someone who is applying for many different insurance panels (so that I can take insurance in private practice,) I'd say check with your contract, as others have mentioned.

Typically, BCBS does NOT cover any psychiatric services, and they're catching a lot of flak for it. That's primarily if you purchase your own plan through them. If it's through your employer, you're probably in a group plan, so it might.

At any rate, most psychiatrists I know can work out different fees for people paying cash, as you have to negotiate for compensation with each insurance company anyway.

Many insurance companies will pay for a psychiatrist (physician) but not a psychologist.

H

InfiniteNothing

Interesting timing. The new "700 BB" bail out bill that the senate passed yesterday includes in its "pork" a provision where mental health must be included in a health care plan.