Why We Don’t Bill Insurance

We have chosen not to contract with insurance companies, meaning we are “out-of-network” providers. We believe this has mutual benefit to both us as providers and you as clients. Here are a few reasons why: 

Different Agendas

Insurance companies operate on a disease model and require us to make a diagnosis. Counselors generally operate on a wellness model. This means that insurance companies often limit the number of sessions, require a specific diagnosis, or restrict certain types of therapies. Many people who come to counseling do not meet the criteria for a medical diagnosis, and often it’s not possible to work within the time limits and specific treatments an insurance company requires. Simply put, we would rather treat you according to our professional and ethical guidelines, and using our specific training and education to give you the best treatment without these barriers.

Confidentiality

When insurance is billed for therapy sessions, your insurance company has access to sensitive information such as your diagnosis and treatment plan, as it becomes part of your official medical record. Unfortunately, in doing so you are agreeing to your information potentially being shared with others, like your employer or other healthcare providers. 

Poor Reimbursement

Many insurance companies do not reimburse providers enough to cover overhead costs, employee wages, employee benefits, and not to mention the person-hours it takes to process all of the insurance claims, submit proper documentation, etc. Here at Boise Counseling Center, we want our counselors to be compensated fairly, have a good work-life balance, and enjoy coming to work. We would rather spend our time and energy focused on what matters most – providing you with the highest quality treatment to help you find wellness.

If you still have questions about how to seek out-of-network reimbursement, please visit our Rates & Insurance page, or don’t hesitate to call us!