How to Respond to Clients Asking to Apply Insurance in a Cash Pay Therapy Practice

How to Respond to Clients Asking to Apply Insurance in a Cash Pay Therapy Practice
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I haven’t kept it a secret over the years that for a variety of reasons, I run an exclusively cash-pay therapy practice. Which raises the question: What do I do if a potential client contacts me and asks whether I accept their insurance?
I noticed a couple of comments lately asking me what I do in these situations. Specifically, folks have asked how I “convince” insurance-based clients to pay cash for my services. I have some thoughts about this that might surprise you! If you’d like to hear how I respond to insurance-based clients in my cash pay therapy practice, check out the video.
Links to Videos Mentioned:
Reasons Why Your Practice Isn't Full (and how to fix it):
• Reasons Why Your Pract...
Marketing Your Private Practice:
• Marketing Your Private...
Insurance vs Cash Pay Private Practice | Pros and Cons of Each:
• Insurance vs Cash Pay ...
How to Shift from Insurance to Private Pay Practice:
• How to Shift from Insu...
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This video is geared for therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field.
Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.
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This video is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.

[@Andromeda00]

Thank you so much for your work, I really appreciate the amount of effort and kindness you put into it! It's always a pleasure to watch your videos and hearing speak. Have an enjoyable maternity leave and a great time with your family!

[@kaleimaile]

You have it in your consent form that you do not take insurance. It’s also on the website in the FAQ. You tell them up front in the initial call. I will not offer SuperBills when I open up next month. It’s not the same svc when you open up yourself to an audit.

[@sleepnbeau823]

Completely agree!

[@bedrockcounseling6845]

Great video!

[@viksaggu9085]

Do you not do virtual?

[@emilyd-uj6rm]

What do you charge?

[@Triple_Zero_]

Aloha from Hawaii!

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

Aloha!

[@michelefisher5171]

I’m Canada we don’t. I’ll give them a receipt because they can submit it in seconds

[@jsanchez782]

I'm reading a book on private practice and the author has a script that she uses for people that try and use insurance. She tells them that she prefers not to involve insurance because A. She has to diagnose you with a mental disorder first. (she says this part very s l o w l y and repeats it a few times, apparently), B. She has to write a letter after 5-10 sessions basically saying that your better, BUT not cured and you still need help... so they’ll keep paying for it… C. She says that ‘up to 14’ people could potentially see that report and review her file at the insurance company. She says that this works 50% of the time. My question for you is, have you ever heard of other clinicians doing this? I don’t know how to feel about it and am little conflicted. I kind of see the financial benefit of it for a thriving practice, but also see ethical problems as this can be seen as manipulation to ’scare’ the client into cash pay. Love your channel by the way. :)

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

I've never heard that before! I can't make any official recommendations for or against that approach. But I do know that personally, I wouldn't use that strategy for the reasons you mentioned. I definitely would want to consult with some professional advice before implementing that strategy!

[@LilSarahDarling]

I wonder if sometimes it’s not a marketing issue, if the therapist simply doesn’t have the skills to retain clients (actually help them) then clients may leave.. leaving them empty handed. Just saying 🤷🏼‍♀️