PAYMENTS & INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT: Upon request an initial complimentary consultation of 30 minutes is offered to determine if a psycho-therapeutic contract is appropriate. After both the client(s) and Dr. Dexter determine to enter into a therapeutic agreement, clients without insurance are expected to pay the standard initial assessment fee of $150. Thereafter the customary fee of $100 per individual session is due at the beginning of each 50 minute-meeting, unless other arrangements are made (group and family session fees vary). Telephone conversations, site visits, report writing and reading, consultation with other professionals with release of information, reading records, longer sessions, travel time, etc. will be charged at the same rate, unless indicated and agreed upon otherwise.  If you do not have insurance and feel you need a sliding scale, Dr. Dexter will give you payment options. Please notify Dr. Dexter if any problem arises during the course of therapy regarding your ability to make timely payments and she will gladly work out a payment plan that fits your needs.

If you are using insurance and Dr. Dexter is in your network, your session fee will be based upon the assignment she has agreed to take from your insurance contract and any co-payments and/or deductible your insurance requires of you.  Although Dr. Dexter is part of several insurance network panels and will bill your insurance for session dates, clients who carry insurance should remember that professional services are rendered and charged to the clients and not to the insurance companies. It is ultimately the client’s responsibility to pay, even if their insurance refuses payment. Most insurance companies will not pay for missed appointments or cancellations with less than the required 24-hour notice. The patient is always responsible for the full fee for the missed appointment, unless otherwise agreed upon by Dr. Dexter, or unless your insurance has certain arrangements for missed or canceled appointments. There are also some diagnostic codes that insurance companies may refuse to pay, which are always the patient’s responsibility , but you will be informed of these prior to their usage. It is the client's responsibility to find out if they have behavioral health coverage, what their co-payment is and whether or not they have met their deductible.

If Dr. Dexter is not in your insurance network and you choose to use your insurance, you are expected to pay the full and customary fee.  Upon request she will give you a bill to submit to your insurance for your reimbursement. The out of network reimbursement is usually far less than the customary fee or that which insurance companies contract within network therapists, so please be aware that your reimbursement will probably be less than what you will pay out-of-pocket. Please check with your insurance to determine what your reimbursement will be prior to starting therapy. Likewise, if you use a Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) plan through your employment, if requested Dr. Dexter can provide a statement showing your payments. End of year statements are also available upon request for tax purposes.

As indicated in the section, Health Insurance & Confidentiality of Records, please be aware that submitting a mental health invoice for reimbursement carries a certain amount of risk. Although most insurance companies are only interested in dates of service and a general diagnosis, some require information about treatment plans and specific issues dealt with in therapy, including progress notes. In addition, not all issues/conditions/problems, which are the focus of psychotherapy, are reimbursed by insurance companies and thus the insurance company my refuse payment. Dr. Dexter will gladly assist you with insurance issues, however, it is ultimately your responsibility to verify the specifics of your coverage and make certain that you secure any need authorizations for treatment