Getting Started

The first step is to contact me! We will then schedule a free phone consultation so I can find out about your needs, how I can help you, and you can get to know me a little bit more. 

Fees

$130 per 50-60 minute session

Sliding Scale: Yes

Pay By: American Express, Cash, Check, Discover, Health Savings Account, Mastercard, Visa

Accepted Insurance Plans

  • Out of Network (see Your Rights & Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills below)

Payment & Insurance

Payment is due at the beginning of each session. I accept cash, check, credit cards, flex spending accounts (FSA), and health savings accounts (HSA). 

While I do not want to discourage you from using your insurance benefits, Experience Life Counseling does not bill insurance. We are happy to provide you with an invoice or superbill for you to submit to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement.

Depending on your out-of-network insurance coverage and benefits, your sessions may be covered in part or in full. Experience Life Counseling recommends you contact your insurance company via the number listed on your insurance card to find out more about your out-of-network benefits. Here are some questions that have been helpful for some in determining benefits and eligibility:

  • Does my health insurance benefit cover individual and/or couples counseling?

  • Do I have a deductible due before coverage begins? If so, how much is it and how much has been applied to it so far this year?

  • Is there a limit on the number of sessions that are eligible for coverage in a given year? If so, how many sessions are eligible for coverage?

  • Do I need a referral from my primary care physician to be eligible for mental health coverage?

  • How much does my benefit reimburse for out-of-network counseling sessions?

  • Is there a restriction on the license category of my mental health provider?

Financial Need

Please do not let financial need stop you from contacting me. I offer a limited-number of reduced-fee appointments for those with demonstrated financial need. 

Cancellations

If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, please contact me at least 24-hour in advance of your scheduled time. Cancellations within 24-hours of your scheduled appointment will result in a fee equal to the cost of the session. 

Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

(OMB Control Number: 0938-1401)

When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?
When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs,   such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

Out-of-network describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called balance billing. This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.

Surprise billing is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care – like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

You are protected from balance billing for:
Emergency services
If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center
When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.

If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you unless you give written consent and give up your protections.

You’re never required to give up your protection from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:
You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.

Your health plan generally must:

Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).

  • Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
  • Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
  • Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact:
Washington Department of Health
Phone number: 360-236-4700
Fax number: 360-236-4818
Email address: hsqa.csc@doh.wa.gov

Visit https://www.cms.gov/files/document/model-disclosure-notice-patient-protections-against-surprise-billing-providers-facilities-health.pdf for more information about your rights under Federal law.