Lee M. Stillerman, PhD
Licensed California Psychologist
Fees & Insurance
1
Self Pay
Many clients choose to self-pay. My current rate is $165 per 50-minute session for individual therapy. I offer a sliding scale fee for self-paying clients in some cases. I send an invoice after the visit which can be paid online.
2
Insurance
I currently accept Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, and Magellan.
Please check with your specific insurance plan for your benefits, it is important to determine your deductible and copay.
Many people begin the search for a therapist by asking “Will my insurance cover this?” A better question is “Which therapist can I trust to give me the best care for my money?” There are several advantages to self-pay vs using insurance:
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More Privacy/ confidentiality: I am required to provide information about your diagnosis, treatment plan, and progress. Once this information gets communicated to the insurance company it is quite literally out of my hands. We will never know exactly who has access to this information or how it is protected. This undermines the basic premise of therapy.
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More freedom and control: Using insurance means that we are allowing a 3rd party to intrude and to be the deciders of, for example, frequency and duration of visits. The insurance company imposes very strict, rigid parameters on how often we can meet and for how long. It is nice when we can create a treatment that makes sense for your unique needs—not your insurance plan.
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No Diagnosis Necessary: Insurance will only cover your sessions if I diagnose you with a “medically necessary” condition. It is an advantage to seek help from a provider who is not mandated to provide you with a stigmatizing and somewhat arbitrary label and to instead focus on what you truly need to heal and make positive changes in your life.
3
Can't Make It?
Clients can cancel or reschedule an appointment anytime, if they provide 24 hours’ notice. If you cancel an appointment with less than 24 hours’ notice, or fail to show up, you will automatically be charged a $75 fee for the appointment. It will be a firm 24 hours. Unfortunately insurance companies will not reimburse for missed sessions.
Of course, there may be times when you miss the appointment and it is beyond your control. It happens, that’s life. Scheduling a therapy appointment is like buying tickets to an event. If you miss the event it doesn’t matter why you missed it, you generally can’t turn your tickets in for a refund.
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It is important you can commit to therapy appointments scheduled for you. I am more than happy to answer any question or respond to any concerns.