Using Your Insurance

We accept most insurance plans that cover mental health counseling. We will bill your insurance company for you if you wish to use your insurance to cover your visits.

Please have your insurance card available when you call to make your first appointment. Our staff will take your insurance information over the phone and will attempt to confirm your insurance benefits prior to your appointment. Bring your insurance card with you at your first appointment so that we can make a copy.

Most insurance plans typically have a co-payment that you will be responsible for paying at the beginning of each appointment. Individual insurance policies vary on the amount of the co-pay. We accept cash, check and most credit and debit cards for co-payments.

Your insurance may have a deductible that you will be required to meet before your insurance will begin to pay for sessions.

We recommend that you call your insurance company prior to your first visit to confirm your benefits. You will be held responsible for full payment of your session fee if your insurance refuses payment, so it is best to confirm ahead of time that your insurance will cover your visits.

When you call your insurance company you should ask:

• Does my insurance cover my counseling session with (counselor’s name) at Sheltered Cove Counseling Center?
• What is my co-payment amount?
• Do I have a deductible? If so, how much is it? How much of my deductible have I already met?
• Do I need authorization? (If you do need authorization, go ahead and get it while you are on the phone and bring the authorization in with you to your first visit.)

Some of our clients elect to self-pay rather than use their insurance. We will work with clients on fee amounts for self-payment if requested. Fee adjustments are done on a case by case basis and must be discussed with your counselor during or after your first visit.

EAPs – Employee Assistance Programs

You may have access to an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) at your workplace. An EAP is a program some employers elect that covers initial counseling sessions.

The advantage of using your EAP is that it typically covers your entire visit – you pay no co-pay.

EAPs usually only cover a few sessions. When you use up your EAP sessions we will bill your insurance for additional sessions, if they are needed.

Contact your HR department to see if your company has an EAP. Let us know when you call to schedule your first session if you plan on using your EAP.