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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by baseball55 on March 25, 2016, at 19:51:30
I just found out that my insurance will not reimburse me for therapy sessions, because I only get 26 per year. I was seeing a DBT therapist every other week (recently went to once a month) and my psychiatrist every 6 weeks. They count both toward the 26 sessions.
Anyway, my therapist has to fill out a form requesting approval for a few more visits between now and July, when the clock resets. My psychiatrist wanted the DBT therapist to make the request since he thinks I'm mostly fine and can't, in all honesty, make the case that I need more therapy.
We had a long talk about this yesterday. The problem is that I don't actually need to see him, but i can't imagine a life in which I don't see him. He is so like a father figure to me. He follows every detail not only of my life, but of my daughter's life. Also, he's 77 and, though he has no immediate plans to do so, will probably retire soon. I want to keep seeing him until circumstances force me to stop.
He was kind about the whole thing, but also said that, if insurance won't cover this, I could pay out of pocket. Given my income and his relatively low fee and the fact that I see him only 8 times a year, I could certainly afford this. Though why pay if I can get the insurance to pay?
Anyway, it was a useful and necessary conversation. We really needed to talk about why I continue to see him and whether he's okay with that. I've been afraid to have the discussion, since I worried he would say it's time to wind this down.
Posted by Tabitha on March 26, 2016, at 1:19:44
In reply to insurance and therapy, posted by baseball55 on March 25, 2016, at 19:51:30
Hi baseball. Your psychiatrist sounds like a good guy. It sounds like his dealings with your insurance are very ethical. But at this point you are asking yourself whether to continue and pay out of pocket just because of the emotional relationship. It is a tough decision and I hope you get clarity on it.
Posted by J Kelly on March 30, 2016, at 11:21:54
In reply to insurance and therapy, posted by baseball55 on March 25, 2016, at 19:51:30
> I just found out that my insurance will not reimburse me for therapy sessions, because I only get 26 per year. I was seeing a DBT therapist every other week (recently went to once a month) and my psychiatrist every 6 weeks. They count both toward the 26 sessions.
>
> Anyway, my therapist has to fill out a form requesting approval for a few more visits between now and July, when the clock resets. My psychiatrist wanted the DBT therapist to make the request since he thinks I'm mostly fine and can't, in all honesty, make the case that I need more therapy.
>
> We had a long talk about this yesterday. The problem is that I don't actually need to see him, but i can't imagine a life in which I don't see him. He is so like a father figure to me. He follows every detail not only of my life, but of my daughter's life. Also, he's 77 and, though he has no immediate plans to do so, will probably retire soon. I want to keep seeing him until circumstances force me to stop.
>
> He was kind about the whole thing, but also said that, if insurance won't cover this, I could pay out of pocket. Given my income and his relatively low fee and the fact that I see him only 8 times a year, I could certainly afford this. Though why pay if I can get the insurance to pay?
>
> Anyway, it was a useful and necessary conversation. We really needed to talk about why I continue to see him and whether he's okay with that. I've been afraid to have the discussion, since I worried he would say it's time to wind this down.Hi baseball,
Sorry you're finding yourself in this position. If you can't get your insurance to cover it, and you can afford it, I'd say continue your treatment. Sounds like he's gonna be retiring soon anyway. Who knows what insights you might gain in whatever time you have left with him?
Jade
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