We Value Transparency

Below you will find our current fees for services, as well as the information provided in our good faith estimate required by federal law.

Our fees vary by length of session and therapist and are subject to change over the course of the therapist's career. Additionally, a therapist's availability to accept new clients changes regularly. Please call so we can learn about your counseling goals and match you with a therapist that best meets your needs, at 256-542-1482.

Common routine fees for service:

• Individual psychotherapy with a licensed associate-level therapist (ALC):

                $125 for New Client Intake Appointments; approx 90minutes

                $75-$85 for each additional Individual Session; approx 55-minutes

• Individual psychotherapy with a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW):

                $165 for New Client Intake Appointments; approx 55minutes

                $150 for each additional Individual Session; approx 55minutes

• Couples, Family  or Individual Counseling:

                $150 for New Couples/Family/Individual Intake; approx 90minutes

                $150 for each additional couples/family/individual session; approx 60minutes

Do you accept insurance?

We currently have therapists accepting Blue Cross and Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Aetna, and Tricare Insurance. We are also in the process of being able to accept many other major health insurances. We are also happy to provide you with statements (Super bills) if you would like to pursue out-of-network reimbursement or reimbursement for flex spending accounts.

More on Insurance:

Although it can sometimes be financially necessary to use your insurance benefits to pay for therapy, there are several important considerations:

• Clients often find, after factoring in unmet deductibles and copays, that paying a flat rate fee is just as economical as utilizing insurance to pay for therapy.
• Couples counseling is often NOT covered because most couples counseling does not meet the medical model requirements of focusing sessions on one person mental health diagnosis.
• All insurance claims require a medical model diagnosis, even if one doesn't exist. This can affect or limit future insurance coverage and may inhibit certain employment opportunities.
• When utilizing insurance benefits, it is the insurance company, not you, who decides how many sessions are appropriate for your treatment.
• Private information, even under new privacy policies, is shared with insurance companies.
• Private information is stored in the Medical Information Bureau where it can be assessed in the future by insurers, employers, etc.

Reduced Rate Services:

At Grand Oaks we believe in giving back to our community and supporting others who have fallen on hard times. One of the ways we do this is by reserving a few slots each week for reduced-rate therapy sessions. These spots are reserved for individuals who are prevented from recieving mental health care and counseling due to financial need. These slots are filled on a first come, first serve basis and may, at times, be limited to only certain participating therapists within our practice. 

If you are experiencing a financial hardship and this is preventing you from recieving mental health care, call our office today to find out how Grand Oaks Counseling can help. 

Good Faith Estimate*

Under the Federal No Surprises Act (H.R. 133 – effective January 1, 2022), you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. 

Note: A Good Faith Estimate is for your awareness only. It does NOT involve you needing to make any type of commitment to the length or frequency of therapy sessions.

• You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees. 
• Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. 
• The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. 
• If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. 
• Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. 

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call the Colorado Division of Insurance at 303-894-7490 or 1-800-930-3745.  

*Disclaimer: This legislation is still being interpreted involving mental health professionals and the above statement is in effort to provide what is currently believed to be important and required to share with both prospective and current clients. This page may be updated as more information evolves involving this new statute.

YOUR RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST SURPRISE  MEDICAL BILLS

(OMB Control Number: 1210-0169) 

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 network.    

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: Alabama Secretary of State P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5616, and Call the No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059 to file a compliant.  

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.