What Insurance Covers

Please note that insurance for mental health is different from physical health coverage. The differences seem subtle and may affect you more strongly. 

Medical insurance does not cover marital counseling because they say it is "not a medical issue and therefore it is not medically necessary. Depression and anxiety are examples of what mental health issues are covered by your insurance."

Some insurance companies require a referral to your counselor, others do not. Please check with your insurance first. 

In the past, Don has heard that some counselors would sidestep this regulation about couples counseling and see a couple/family, but tell the insurance company they are seeing one person for depression. The insurance companies were very clear that this is considered insurance fraud. Thank you for not putting Boice Counseling in the position to have to tell you no. Every now and then, there is someone who tells us that their previous counselor committed fraud by doing this, "as a favor" to the client. I worked with a client whose counselor was raided by the FBI and served time for insurance fraud.

The gray area is as follows:
Many people who are separating consider suicide, have thoughts about it or have fleeting thoughts of it. Of course, we recommend counseling and that is covered. In dealing with the depressive symptoms, the idea of marriage or relationship comes up and needs to be resolved. If this is done with an individual, not the couple, and the main focus is depression, not the relationship, then insurance has no problem paying for it. The spouse or partner is allowed to come in from time to time but not regularly. I have always been a rule follower, so I appreciate you respecting that.

_Self-Pay Options

Is your time or money really tight?  If you are self-pay (do not use your insurance to pay for sessions) you have these options:

• 30 minute sessions, either in person or by phone (cut down on the commute, as well) at $85 dollars per session.  The benefit is that you save time and can stay on track with your therapy without a full session cost.
• Have a phone (or Zoom/Facetime) session with Don and save time. The typical length of a session is 45-50 minutes.  Cost is the same as an in-office session: $150 per session. The benefit though is that you save time. You can even schedule sessions during your lunch hour and not have to take any time off for driving.
• We appreciate your on-time payment and charge a fee if you choose not to pay at the time of service.