Insurance: Pros & Cons

 

Pros: 

* Some insurances will pay for a portion of your sessions leaving you to pay a co-payment and/or your deductible.You pay for your premiums and have the right to use your benefits whenever possible.

 

Cons/Risks: 

* Universally, insurance companies REQUIRE the therapist to render a mental health diagnosis in order for sessions to be processed by them. This goes into a national database. Insurers have been known to withhold life insurance from people with certain diagnoses.  

* Confidentiality in healthcare is not an absolute. Exceptions include:

- Court Order in which a judge orders the release of confidential information as part of your defense in a criminal case or investigation against you. Legal exceptions can be made for personal or public safety. This can become an issue specifically during a custody battle between parents.  

- Consent as a condition for employment in which your employer has developed background screening criteria for which they require that you sign a voluntary release as a necessary step in processing your application for potential or continued employment. This is very relevant when working with/for the government, the military and when in need of a security clearance (even as a private contractor).  

- Consent as a condition for acceptance into the various branches of military. Mental health treatment has been known to terminate a future military career.  

- Civil discovery in which you must release information during a civil case in which you are seeking consideration, damages or compensation related to injuries, malpractice & negligence, breach of contract, disability, pain or suffering.  

- Employer breach in which a supervisor/manager obtains or comes into possession of mental health information as part of release to return to work following a leave, illness, relapse etc.