FAQ's & INSURANCE
Listed below are some answers to some common questions.
If you have further questions or concerns please call us at (646) 480-6011 and we will be happy to discuss treatment options.
All major health insurance plans are accepted by Michael Ash LCSW-R, M-CASAC, PLLC.
Please remember that you must also choose a plan to provide the Medicaid benefits to you - the list of plans we accept is below. We don't accept what is known as "Straight Medicaid” it must be a Managed Care Medicaid. However, it is easy to get a plan - you just choose one and call them and let them know that you have Medicaid but need a Managed Care Plan.
In-Network
If your insurance plan is listed below, you should ask about In-Network benefits, meaning that we are part of that insurance’s "network" of providers.
Out of Network
If your insurance is not on the list below, (or listed as “out-of-network only” you should be asking about Out-of-Network benefits (more on Out-of-Network below).
Terms You Need to Know
*Don't worry if you’re still unclear, we'll help explain the numbers for you once you have them!
Allowed Amount: the amount your insurance deems acceptable for Mental Health Office Visits (this varies by insurance). We charge $150 for the initial session, and $100 for the subsequent sessions, however, each insurance determines how much of our fee they are willing to pay. That is the “allowed amount.” For most in-network insurances, it is a flat fee, and we write off the remainder. For many out-of-network insurances, it is a percentage. This is an important number to know if you have a deductible because this is the amount you will pay per session. For most in-network plans, we already know the amount.
Deductible: this is the amount you have to pay before the insurance will start paying anything. If you have a deductible, you should also ask how much of it you have left. Your fee will be tied to the contracted rate or “allowed amount” your insurance sets for our services. This varies greatly between insurance. After you have paid your deductible, sometimes you have a Co-pay or Co-insurance that you have to pay from then on (see below).
Co-Pay: flat fee that you must pay per appointment or Co-insurance (a percentage of the total fee or “allowed amount” that you must pay per appointment).
Effective Date: the date your insurance became active.
Re-Certification Date: mark this on your calendar so that you know when you need to submit paperwork to re-certify.
Primary Insurance: just to make sure that you're not mistakenly listed under another insurance, for example, your previous insurance, your parent's insurance, your partner's insurance, etc.
In-Network Plans
We accept all types of the plans below, including Medicaid, Medicare, ACA, and private plans. We do not accept “straight” Medicaid (that is, Medicaid or Medicare without a Plan). If you have Medicaid/Medicare without a plan, you should call them right away and choose a plan. Here is the list of plans that we accept.
Please complete your insurance details when contacting us, so we can verify your benefits.
Out-of-Network Benefits
If you have Out-of-Network benefits, your payment is due at the time of service, however, we're happy to file all your claims with your insurance company for you as a courtesy. Sometimes insurances will actually pay us directly, in which case, you're only responsible for whatever deductible, co-pay, or co-insurance is applicable. If you have a deductible, your fee will be based on your insurance’s “allowed amount.”