Why we don't take insurance for mental health care: Insight for our families in Plymouth, Canton, Novi, Northville, Livonia Brighton, Howell, Wixom and surrounding areas
by Drs. John and Pam McCaskill
A question we often get asked is "Why don't you take insurance?" Many years ago, we decided to leave insurance networks for a variety of reasons and would like to share the “why” with our clients and our community:
1. Insurance Coverage has limitations.
Insurance companies often have strict guidelines about what services are covered, how many sessions are allowed, and what conditions are deemed treatable under a specific plan. We have always prioritized offering personalized care for what the patient needs, not what a stranger on the phone without an advanced degree in mental health "approves” of.
2. Time spent with insurance providers can be time spent on the patient.
Dealing with insurance companies can be incredibly time-consuming, stressful, and mentally exhausting which distracts from our primary role of providing the highest standard of care to our patients.
3. Private information about you and/or your child should not be shared.
Insurance companies can request that private information you or your child share with us, also be shared with them. Who is this information being shared with and where does it go from there? A stranger does not need to know about an extra-marital affair or the struggles your teen is experiencing at a challenging time of life. They may even request the notes we take during session or other information we discuss, and we (respectfully) believe this is none of their business.
4. No confusion regarding finances.
While insurance can alleviate some of the financial burden of mental health services, it doesn’t always provide adequate coverage. Co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs can be confusing and unpredictable. We can set a transparent, flat rate for our services that is clearly presented prior to engaging in a therapeutic relationship.
5. Couples therapy is not covered by insurance.
Insurance companies do not see the value in couples counseling because there is not a mental health diagnosis attached to it. Our couples counseling division at McCaskill Family Services is one of our services in highest demand. We would not be able to offer pre-marital counseling, relationship check-ups, marital therapy or couples counseling if we partnered with insurance.
6. Better access and shorter wait times.
Because we are not tied to insurance networks, we’re often able to offer more availability and shorter wait times to meet with clinicians. Many families come to us after spending weeks—sometimes months—waiting to be seen elsewhere. We know how important it is to get help when you need it, especially for children, teens, and families facing emotional or behavioral challenges.
7. We’re still here to help you use your benefits.
Even though we don’t bill insurance directly, many clients successfully use their out-of-network benefits. We’re happy to provide monthly superbills that you can submit to your insurance provider for partial reimbursement, depending on your plan. As always, if you have questions about how to do that, we’re here to walk you through it.
8. The ability to provide care to those wanting 100% confidentiality.
Many of our patients want 100% privacy and confidentiality, and do not want their employers, insurance company or the public to have any knowledge of their participation in mental health care. Parents often want to ensure that their child will not have a mental health diagnosis attached to their health care records. Clients have become increasingly concerned with the capabilities of AI to access electronically stored information and share it with the world. With our private pay clients, we do not have to submit documentation to anyone, allowing us to create a more confidential and secure space for clients without fear of others learning about their treatment.
Our decision not to take insurance for mental health services is not made lightly and we are aware that this may be a barrier for some clients wishing to access care at our practice. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to mental health care. We remain honest and transparent about our fees from the very first contact with our office, and hope that everyone ultimately receives the help they need whether it is through us or through other practices who take insurance.
