Frequently Asked Questions

Do you take insurance?

Yes, we do.  At this time, Merrimack Valley Psychological Associates takes Aetna insurance, Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance, OPTUM/United Healthcare/United Behavioral Health and most OPTUM affiliates.  We are also an Out-Of-Network Provider for those who are on a PPO health plan for some other insurance company than Blue Cross.  For those without this insurance plan, or for those who prefer not to involve their insurance company for sessions, we provide the option for private pay.

Is using your insurance right for you?
Why would someone choose to pay for their therapy sessions out-of-pocket?  There are numerous reasons one might consider not using their insurance to cover the expenses of therapy, but the most common one is that by taking private insurance, your privacy can be limited.  If a medical practitioner accepts insurance, the managed care companies require that a diagnosis immediately be made after the initial visit. The insurance companies then determine if the diagnosis is sufficiently severe enough for them to agree to pay for future visits, and for how many visits they will allow. This puts the client and the therapist in a difficult position, as this could mean that someone is unable to receive the treatment they need. Furthermore, the managed care companies then also have access and permission to view any of your therapy notes as they see fit.  These diagnoses can then become part of your long-term medical record which are subject to review by others in a number of different situations where the individual may not wish others to have this information.  Using your insurance to pay for your sessions may be the right option for you, but it is necessary that you are informed of the limits of your confidentiality when doing so.
Do you offer payment plans?

We understand that everyone has a different financial situation that may limit their flexibility to pay for these sessions, and are sympathetic to this issue. As a practice, we firmly believe that therapy should be accessible to everyone who wants or needs it. As such, we are always open to arranging a payment plan with all of our clients in order to spread the cost of your treatment over a period longer than the course of your treatment. If this is a concern of yours, please do not hesitate to contact us about this matter.

What if I need to miss or cancel my appointment?

Sometimes unavoidable situations happen and you may need to cancel your therapy appointment.  This is a normal part of life, and we completely understand.  However, we request that you notify us of your need to reschedule as soon as possible, so that we may offer the time to someone else who might benefit from it.  By notifying me 24 hours in advance of a missed or cancelled appointment, you can avoid the $175 missed appointment fee.