Coaching and Therapy FAQs

What are your fees for service?
          Do you take credit cards?
                    Will you accept insurance?
During our first session we will discuss the specific fees-for-service. If your fee should ever become an issue for you, please discuss your concerns with me.


Unless a third-party payer has pre-arranged to cover the costs of our engagement, you will be responsible for paying the full fee for service in advance of or at the start of each session. Cash, check, and PayPal™ are all acceptable methods of payment.


If you need a monthly statement of professional services for your records or to submit for insurance reimbursement, just let me know.  To avoid unnecessary charges, be sure to provide 3-days advance notice when changing or cancelling appointments. These fees are not typically covered by insurance.
Cash, Check, and Debit/Credit Card Payments via PayPal™
You are welcome to pay for your therapy or coaching sessions at the start of each session with cash or with a check made payable to "Working Relationships".  In addition, you can also pay for your sessions, in advance, using your PayPal™ account.  ( PayPal™ can be set-up use your preferred debit and credit cards.)
  • Log in to your PayPal™ account.

  • Click the [Send Money] tab.

  • Fill in the payment transaction information.

    Just so you know ... while PayPal™ doesn't charge fees to the recipients of personal transactions, it does charge payees (merchants) for transactions for services and products.  Consequently, we charge a 5% service fee to cover our costs when you choose to use PayPal™ to pay for our products and services.
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    • Pay to: DNewman@WorkingRelationships.BIZ
    • Select[Purchase] [Service]
    • Compute the amount to pay by adding a 5% processing/handling fee to the amount you've agreed to pay per session.  Here's an example:
    $150.00    (Fee per session)
    +    7.50    (5% of the fee per session)
    $157.50    (Amount to pay PayPal™ per session)
    • Complete your transaction by following the on-screen PayPal™ instructions.


    Insurance


    By definition, coaching is not medical treatment and is, therefore, not likely to be covered by medical insurance or be eligible to be funded from tax-advantaged health care reimbursement accounts. On the other hand, for clients who meet certain diagnostic conditions, psychotherapy is generally considered to be a qualified medical expense and, as such, may be tax deductible, might qualify for funding from your health care reimbursement account, and could be covered by insurance.

    It is up to you to find out whether the fees for your therapy are covered by your insurance benefits and, if so, to decide whether or not to take advantage of that coverage to defray the costs of your treatment.


    Questions to Ask Your Insurance Company:  If you plan to file a claim for reimbursement with your insurance company, it is important for you to confirm the limits of your coverage BEFORE starting treatment. Inasmuch as I am not affiliated with any preferred provider network or aligned with any insurance panel, be sure to ask your insurance company the following questions:


    • Am I covered for out-patient treatment with a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist ("MFT") who is an "out-of-network" provider? (FYI, at this time, Medicare does not currently cover treatment with MFTs at all.)

    • If my insurance does include a provision for "out-of-network" treatment, what are the limits of that coverage?

    • How many out-patient sessions are covered in a year? (Does "year" refer to calendar year or any 12 consecutive months?)

    • How much of the fee for each session will be covered by insurance?  (Ex. 80% or $100)  What is my co-pay?

    • Must I satisfy a deductible before I am eligible to file a claim for reimbursement? If yes, how much deductible remains to be paid before my insurance will kick in?

    • Other than the diagnosis, dates of service, and treatment codes, is any other information about my therapy required when I file a claim for reimbursement?

    • For my therapy to be covered, do I need to be referred for treatment by my primary care physician or may I simply self-refer?  Do I need pre-authorization from the insurance company before I can start therapy?

    Pros and Cons of Using Insurance for Your Therapy:  Insurance companies only pay for services they determine to be medically necessary. Consequently, before commencing therapy, you should evaluate the benefits and consequences of involving insurance companies in your treatment.  Bottom line, it is entirely up to you to decide whether the advantages of reducing your out-of-pocket expenses are sufficient to offset the short-term impact to your privacy, the long-term implications of sharing confidential details about your sessions, and the influence of benefit administrators on the duration and course of your treatment.


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