Can't afford this! Psychiatrist at Children's Outpaitent Center? KKI?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: wow, this board is something else and I will choose my words more carefully IF I ever post in the future. Thanks to those who provided helpful advice. I was simply looking for a good in-network option with the mounting costs of having two special needs kids. The "high income" comment was simply expressing a broader frustration that, if this is hard for us, it must be impossible for some. FWI
W, a lot of DC would not categorize us as "high income" but we are not struggling to pay the mortgage. We are living paycheck to paycheck without a lot of discretionary spending, but I am not complaining. I am just trying to explore options for good help for my kids and feel it should be covered by insurance like any other medical issue. Things are hard enough for those of us who have kids who need these services. They should be covered. (AND, we shouldn't have to be called "complainers' or otherwise criticized by other parents who we look to for support! Geesh!

OP, I posted before (hopefully one of the helpful posts), and I want to just say that I am sorry that so many people are so awful on this board. It's really sad when people come here looking for advice and input and are subjected to needless personal attacks. I've seen quite a bit of it (and experienced some of it) and it seems to be getting worse. I think there are a lot of people that think it is good sport or maybe are just really angry people --- both of which are just so, so sad.
Again, good luck. It's very frustrating that there is such a shortage of good care around here that takes insurance. I think it's because there are so many people with money, that the good folks don't have to take insurance -- they have plenty of people willing and able to self pay. That's not the case in a lot of the country. (I wonder if it's a similar situation in places like Manhattan and San Francisco?).

[Anonymous]

I feel you OP, my DS saw a psychologist last year for about 10 months and at $150 per week with no FSA and no reimbursement, it was a huge expense for us and we have a good income (150k). His psychiatrist also does not take insurance and charges $350/hour. He needs to go back to the psychologist but we just don't have the extra $800/month.

We have *never* found a child psychiatrist in northern va who takes our insurance and is accepting new patients.

The few psychologists we have met with who WERE in network were terrible. They weren't qualified to handle complicated situations. And IMO, bad therapy is worse than no therapy.

[Anonymous]

The incredibly long waits to see any developmental pediatricians who take insurance in this area are disgusting. Think of how many children miss developmental windows of opportunity just waiting for an appointment.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live, OP and what insurance do you have

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The incredibly long waits to see any developmental pediatricians who take insurance in this area are disgusting. Think of how many children miss developmental windows of opportunity just waiting for an appointment.

We didn't see a developmental ped for a year. We private paid for services as we knew we needed them, then had evals, then the developmental ped. Kids miss out as parents don't get them assessed early but there are low cost ways of doing it.

[Anonymous]

OP here: Thank you for the follow up posts, and yes, $126 PER WEEK is a ton for us. We are not wealthy by any means, and between this and expenses for our younger daughter it is daunting.

We take our younger DD to a developmental ped for ADHD meds at KKI, but aside from CAARD/KKI I'm just not as familiar with what is available for our older DD, who does not have the same issues as my younger DD.

I'm not sure who the people are who write the mean posts, but it's terrible.

[Anonymous]

Oh and I live in Silver Spring and have Fed BCBS. OP

[Anonymous]

Most providers don't take insurance because reimbursements are minimal and people will do what they have to do for their children.

-signed, mother of a special needs child who spends about $3000 a month out of pocket.

[Anonymous]

If you were in Northern Virginia, I'd tell you to look at the Inova Kellar Center. Our DC has ADHD, anxiety, and now depression and he sees a psychiatrist there for medication management. It costs only a co-pay ($20 - we have fed gov blue cross blue shield). The psychiatrist is very good. For therapy, yes, it is unfortunately expensive. $170/week (and we get reimbursed just under $60 on that). Good luck, OP. Agree that affordable mental health care should not be so difficult to obtain

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you were in Northern Virginia, I'd tell you to look at the Inova Kellar Center. Our DC has ADHD, anxiety, and now depression and he sees a psychiatrist there for medication management. It costs only a co-pay ($20 - we have fed gov blue cross blue shield). The psychiatrist is very good. For therapy, yes, it is unfortunately expensive. $170/week (and we get reimbursed just under $60 on that). Good luck, OP. Agree that affordable mental health care should not be so difficult to obtain

I have called them several times and they are never accepting new patients. Is there a trick to it? Do you mind sharing the name of the psychiatrist you recommend?

[Anonymous]

Hi OP,

Have you asked he service providers (or their staff) that you already see at KKI about your older DD (who to see, and how to get an appointment)? I would think that would be the most helpful avenue to getting in faster.

We pay $180 per session for our DD 9's out of network therapy, and get 1/3 back. Fortunately, we don't go every week.

Best of luck,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: wow, this board is something else and I will choose my words more carefully IF I ever post in the future. Thanks to those who provided helpful advice. I was simply looking for a good in-network option with the mounting costs of having two special needs kids. The "high income" comment was simply expressing a broader frustration that, if this is hard for us, it must be impossible for some. FWI
W, a lot of DC would not categorize us as "high income" but we are not struggling to pay the mortgage. We are living paycheck to paycheck without a lot of discretionary spending, but I am not complaining. I am just trying to explore options for good help for my kids and feel it should be covered by insurance like any other medical issue. Things are hard enough for those of us who have kids who need these services. They should be covered. (AND, we shouldn't have to be called "complainers' or otherwise criticized by other parents who we look to for support! Geesh!

OP, I posted before (hopefully one of the helpful posts), and I want to just say that I am sorry that so many people are so awful on this board. It's really sad when people come here looking for advice and input and are subjected to needless personal attacks. I've seen quite a bit of it (and experienced some of it) and it seems to be getting worse. I think there are a lot of people that think it is good sport or maybe are just really angry people --- both of which are just so, so sad.
Again, good luck. It's very frustrating that there is such a shortage of good care around here that takes insurance. I think it's because there are so many people with money, that the good folks don't have to take insurance -- they have plenty of people willing and able to self pay. That's not the case in a lot of the country. (I wonder if it's a similar situation in places like Manhattan and San Francisco?).

It's very sad, but true that many providers in this area know they can have a healthy practice without taking insurance. I've actually had a few of them tell me that there are enough people willing to pay out of pocket around here that they don't need to deal with insurance. This is big part of what is wrong with our mental health care in this country.

[Anonymous]

OP - if you are in NoVA, maybe try the Vienna Women's Center. I know the therapist I saw there was also trained in play therapy.

http://thewomenscenter.org/counseling/individuals-couples-families/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The incredibly long waits to see any developmental pediatricians who take insurance in this area are disgusting. Think of how many children miss developmental windows of opportunity just waiting for an appointment.

Think about that anytime you refer casual posters experiencing normal developmental problems to a full developmental work up because of possible "red flags." It is you who is part of the developmentl pediatrician industrial complex.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: wow, this board is something else and I will choose my words more carefully IF I ever post in the future. Thanks to those who provided helpful advice. I was simply looking for a good in-network option with the mounting costs of having two special needs kids. The "high income" comment was simply expressing a broader frustration that, if this is hard for us, it must be impossible for some. FWI
W, a lot of DC would not categorize us as "high income" but we are not struggling to pay the mortgage. We are living paycheck to paycheck without a lot of discretionary spending, but I am not complaining. I am just trying to explore options for good help for my kids and feel it should be covered by insurance like any other medical issue. Things are hard enough for those of us who have kids who need these services. They should be covered. (AND, we shouldn't have to be called "complainers' or otherwise criticized by other parents who we look to for support! Geesh!

OP, I posted before (hopefully one of the helpful posts), and I want to just say that I am sorry that so many people are so awful on this board. It's really sad when people come here looking for advice and input and are subjected to needless personal attacks. I've seen quite a bit of it (and experienced some of it) and it seems to be getting worse. I think there are a lot of people that think it is good sport or maybe are just really angry people --- both of which are just so, so sad.
Again, good luck. It's very frustrating that there is such a shortage of good care around here that takes insurance. I think it's because there are so many people with money, that the good folks don't have to take insurance -- they have plenty of people willing and able to self pay. That's not the case in a lot of the country. (I wonder if it's a similar situation in places like Manhattan and San Francisco?).

It's very sad, but true that many providers in this area know they can have a healthy practice without taking insurance. I've actually had a few of them tell me that there are enough people willing to pay out of pocket around here that they don't need to deal with insurance. This is big part of what is wrong with our mental health care in this country.

I think it may also be an ironic outgrowth of the mental health parity act. I think that, in response to being required to cover mental health care, insurers promulgated "reasonable and customary" rates that are waaaay below market. I can't really blame a trained psychologist for not being willing to work for $75/hr (which is what BCBS considers reasonable and customary), when she has to pay her office rent, utilities, pay back student loans, buy toys and furniture for the office, pay her own social security and self employment taxes, etc., etc. Submitted the expenses for insurance is only a little bit of work for me -- the biggest problem is the artificially low "reasonable and customary" rates.