Health insurance has been around since the 1920’s and its a common belief that we have to have it, right. Maybe, but let’s look and the numbers. The average monthly premium is $393.00 for an individual, while the annual deductible is $4,328.00. If you have a family you’re monthly premium is $1,021.00 and your annual deductible is $8,352.00. That’s expensive!
If your going to spend that kind of money on a product, you should consider what your getting in return. I want to shed some light on what your getting from your insurance company as it relates to your mental health.
You will lose your privacy. I know this from personal experience. I used to work for the evil insurance company and know first hand how many people see your treatment plan in the process. Your private information, regardless of HIPPA laws, can be seen by dozens of people. When my clients pay me out-of-pocket they have control over their privacy.
You will be labeled. The insurance company requires your counselor to label you with one of the disorders found in the DSM-5 before they can get paid. That forces counselors stamp you with a diagnosis. Individuals who claim services on their insurance are now forced to deal with the stigma of a mental illness for the rest of their lives. This label will be attached to your permanent record. Many of my clients don’t need a diagnosis and can receive the help the want to achieve their goals without the label and stigma.
You may lose your civil rights. Recent events in our culture have contributed to the restriction of personal rights if you are labeled with a diagnosis. According to Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, “The VA has been reporting veterans to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System … just because the VA has determined the veteran requires a fiduciary to administer benefit payments.” Many veterans are losing their constitutional rights simply because of a diagnosis they received from the VA hospital. As a private pay therapist, I don’t have to turn my clients over the Big Brother when they ask for help. I can provide a safe place for veterans to heal and recover.
You will lose control of your care. When you file on your insurance they take control of your treatment. From the very onset of treatment, your counselor no longer works for you, but has to ask the insurance company if they can work with you. If you don’t meet certain criteria the insurance company may refuse to pay for your treatment, even if you have been paying your insurance premiums.
If you do meet the “clinical criteria”, your counselor is restricted by how many sessions the insurance company will approve. If you need more sessions, the counselor must ask permission to see you again and you may be denied services when your insurance doesn’t want to pay any more. Your counselor is employed by the insurance company. When clients pay privately for therapy, they can see their counselor as often as they want and have more control over the healthcare needs.
I not suggesting you cancel your health insurance after reading this. There are some instances when your insurance can be helpful. For example, catastrophic and emergency situations are ideal for insurance. You might meet your deductible in the first incident.
However, for managing your mental health needs it is far better to do private pay for your own protection, security, and control of your life needs.