Health Insurance and Counseling

Many people have questions about counseling and health insurance. Because it is a personal decision, I’d like to take a moment to provide you with some information to help you decide. Then you can make an informed decision that is right for you.

DID YOU KNOW that all health insurance companies follow the medical model? This means that insurance companies require clients to be “patients”? What this means is that the practitioner must present a formal medical diagnosis. That diagnosis then determines the nature and duration of services allowable and paid for by the insurance company. These records are permanent and may be accessed by employers, insurance companies, and others: a psychiatric diagnosis, whether accurate or not, becomes a lifelong “fact.” These records are supposed to be kept confidential, however Connections Christian Counseling has no control over what happens to the records once they are sent to the insurance company.

In addition, many of the problems that bring people into counseling do not fit neatly in to the ‘medical model’. For example, if you are having ongoing conflict in your marriage relationship, this may or may not be covered by your insurance. Yet it could be causing a great deal of turmoil, stress, and pain in your life. If it does happen to be covered-the insurance company-not you and your counselor-will determine the number and frequency of sessions. Who would you rather have deciding on the services that you get? Some managed care company representative in an office cubicle probably in another state who does not know you? Or would you prefer that you and your health care professional collaborate on your care and make these decisions together?

What if you are interested in personal growth and challenging yourself to be the best that you can be? What if you want support while you set goals and practice new skills? Or maybe you want some accountability while you work to take your business to the next level or plan a career change? These valuable coaching services are not ‘medical conditions’ and will not be covered by health insurance.

These are just some of the reasons that Connections Christian Counseling does not submit bills to insurance companies. However, some insurance companies may reimburse their members for services with Connections Christian Counseling. It varies depending on the policy exclusions and the contract between your employer and the insurance company. The client is responsible for payment at the time of service. Upon your request, I can give you the paperwork to assist you in seeking reimbursement from your insurance company. However, I cannot guarantee reimbursement because your insurance coverage is a contract primarily between your employer and the insurance company. I recommend that you read the article on my website www.ConnectionsWellnessCenter.com called “Paying for Therapy”-it offers 5 more points to consider so that you can make an informed decision about using health insurance to pay for counseling.

Counseling is a valuable service that has the potential to greatly improve the quality of your life and relationships. By investing in counseling services you maintain control, privacy & flexibility in your health care.


Lena Wright is the founder and President of Connections Wellness Center and a Certified Professional Coach and a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor. Her passion is helping women find peace and contentment so they may enjoy healthy relationships and be all that God has created them to be. She can be reached through her website at www.ConnectionsWellnessCenter.com