How can I find a psychologist?
The American Psychological Association can assist you. By calling 1-800-964-2000, you can be connected directly to the state or local referral service for psychologists in your area, or you can visit APA's online help center, www.apahelpcenter.org.
What about confidentiality?
Your privacy is important to you and will be important to your psychologist. All members of the American Psychological Association subscribe to a Code of Ethics that requires strict efforts to maintain patient confidentiality. Today, state law typically requires patients to be asked to approve the release of mental health information in order to obtain insurance reimbursement or coverage for their treatment. Your psychologist will only release that information if you sign a release form indicating that you give your approval. The enactment of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was also intended to provide patients with increased protection of this information.
Is therapy included in my insurance health plan coverage?
Many insurance plans provide some level of coverage for psychological services. In addition, government-sponsored health coverage programs (Medicare, Medicaid, CHAMPUS, etc.) provide varying levels of coverage.
If you do not have coverage and will be paying for your treatment out of pocket, you can talk with your psychologist about sliding-scale fees, or working out a payment plan. Community mental health centers are also an alternative.
Millions of Americans who have received help from psychological treatment would say that it is one of the best investments they've made in terms of improving their lives.
How can I find out about my coverage?
Call your insurance health plan representative to find out exactly what is covered - outpatient therapy, more intensive treatment, etc. - and what level of coverage you have.
Ask if the full cost of treatment is covered, or only a part. Inquire if there are limits such as co-payments, limits on the number of visits, annual or lifetime maximums. If the plan covers only "medically necessary" treatment, find out how that decision is made.
Ask what you can do if your coverage is denied or cut short.
Find out if there is a group of providers, a "network," that you must choose from or if you can choose any psychologist with whom you feel comfortable.
What if my insurance coverage is inadequate?
Your employer's benefits or human resource manager may be able to suggest a doctor who will see employees at a fee you can afford. Some communities have clinics or teaching hospitals where services are provided on a sliding scale. There may be a local psychological association that maintains a list of private practitioners who see patients for a reduced fee. Your family doctor also may be able to help.
Next page: How Do I Choose?
Documents from apahelpcenter.org may be reprinted in their entirety with credit given to the American Psychological Association. Any exceptions to this, including requests to excerpt or paraphrase documents from apahelpcenter.org, must be presented in writing to helping@apa.org and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Permission for exceptions will be given on a one-time-only basis and must be sought for each additional use of the document.
