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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by emmanuel98 on March 5, 2012, at 18:37:14
It's been quiet here, so I will chime in with my latest problem. My insurance company has told my social worker to start winding it down and has approved only 8 more visits. I've been seeing her every week for a while now and in the last month have been doing much better, but I wasn't quite prepared to end so quickly. It's likely I can see her once a month or every 3 weeks and pay out of pocket, but it sucks to have the insurance company insisting that I wind it down so quickly. I only just started getting stable from bad bouts of depression (one that landed me in the hospital for 3 weeks last April-May).
Also, I figure they have called my p-doc as well, though I won't see him until Friday to ask about it. I see him every other week and I imagine they'll want me to wind that down as well. I have been seeing him for 7 years and will find that particularly wrenching since I am very attached to him.
This stinks.
Posted by Dinah on March 5, 2012, at 23:21:56
In reply to Insurance company, posted by emmanuel98 on March 5, 2012, at 18:37:14
Am I remembering correctly that this is the social worker who recently requested more money? So that asking her to reduce her rate for private pay probably won't help?
I face this same issue, next year. It really does suck when monetary considerations intrude. :(
Posted by emmanuel98 on March 6, 2012, at 18:42:06
In reply to Re: Insurance company » emmanuel98, posted by Dinah on March 5, 2012, at 23:21:56
She did ask for more money -- she was getting only $45 from insurance plus $20 from me. I now pay her sixty a week, so I could afford to see her every other week without it costing more. In fact, it would cost a little less. It's my p-doc I'm most worried about. I know he would sharply reduce his rate to let me wind it down if insurance won't pay, but I will have to wind it down. Maybe it's time anyway. I just don't feel ready.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on March 24, 2012, at 20:45:19
In reply to Re: Insurance company, posted by emmanuel98 on March 6, 2012, at 18:42:06
Insurance companies are the devil, no doubt. One thing to look into...due to parity laws (which may vary state to state?) if you have a biologically based dx, you may get better coverage than if you have a non biologically based dx. When my t billed under a dysthymia dx, I only got 20 sessions. When she billed under major depression, I got unlimited visits. How biologically based is determined is total b.s., as far as I can tell. There is a list of 8 or 9 conditions that are considered to be biological.
Thought I'd mention it, just in case it is helpful.
Best,
EE
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