Therapist and insurance billing- HELP!

[Anonymous]

I went to a therapist a for about 12 visits last year (October- December). I spoke with her on the phone and she said she accepted my insurance prior to our first visit. Every visit I paid the $20 co-pay. In March I received a $700 bill from her for about half the visits. I checked with my insurance company and she wasn't part of the insurance network until mid-November so only half of the visits were covered by insurance and the other half have to paid out of pocket. My insurance company reached out to the therapist but she refuses to "write off" the $700- I paid the $700 because I don't want to negatively impact my credit. I'm so pissed off that she claimed to be part of my insurance network but really wasn't and I'm out $700. I wouldn't have gone to her in the first place if I would have known I would have to pay out of pocket.

Anyone with a similar experience have any suggestions? Do i have an escalation path here so that I can get the $700 back? Can I report her to any agencies?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

So she told you she was in-network before you started going to see her, then it turned out she wasn't in-network until November? What did she say when you asked why she lied about being in-network?

[Anonymous]

What type of licensure does she have? Social work? LPC? LMFT? Whatever jursidiction she practices in will have a licensing board to whom you can report your concerns.

[Anonymous]

you should absolutely report exactly what happened to the state legislation board. In the meantime, you need to tell her exactly how you feel- on the phone or whatever. at the very least this is unethical behavior on her part and it damages the therapy relationship.

[Anonymous]

I have found that many people really don't think $700 is a lot of money, so really wouldn't think this matters. It always takes me a back - it is a lot of money. Good luck working it out!