I Might Be in Need of a Reality Check (if it doesn't bounce)

[multipurposegoddess]

I am probably being really unreasonable.

We bounced a couple of checks drawn on our HSA to pay for therapy sessions. Now our therapist wants us to pay in cash. I really don't want to do that. It is upsetting me quite a bit.

Part of it is that I just don't want to send my husband off with $100 in cash twice a week. We are still rebuilding trust and I am just not there. 

And the other part is that our insurance only authorizes $74/session and we've been paying $100. Maybe that is usual for therapy, but that's not the way it works for the rest of my medical bills. And coupling my unease over that with the feeling I have that people who insist on cash are trying to get away with something, and I am about ready to change therapists. Which would be inconvenient, but I am just really uncomfortable with the whole thing..

So, is this one of those things that I just need to get over?

Comments

[serasempre.livejournal.com]

I did not think they could charge more than the negotiated insurance rate, so that makes me a little nervous of the therapist. I'd think if you couldn't explain that you've done X to make sure it doesn't happen again, s/he should be okay with not using cash, especially given the circumstances. Of course, charging more than the insurance says it ought to be would make me want to find a new therapist anyway. No advice, just head nodding. That's not something I'd just get over.

[tskaredoff.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Henry had the conversation with her about that discrepancy when I wasn't there, so I don't really know how he framed it or if she justified it in some way. That may be a large part of the problem, actually - he's had all the conversations about billing with her, while I'm the one that pays the bills and gets distressed.

The sessions have definitely helped, so I don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

In any case, good to know that that isn't just standard practice.

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

My experience is different - I've found it very common that therapists charge more than insurance covers and ask you to pay the difference (although the one I worked with most recently did note that if we were in financial hardship, she could be flexible.) I also would not be concerned if a therapist asked for cash after having had more than one check bounce.

I would call her yourself and explain your concern about cash in your situation, and see how she takes it. That will give you a better sense of where thing stand.

[tskaredoff.livejournal.com]

So it is sort of standard. Good to know.

I think it's reasonable for her to ask for cash, actually, it's just not practical for us to comply without freaking me out.

Calling her would be the sensible response, right? I just figured that out a few minutes ago. I might be able to talk myself into actually picking up the phone, who knows?

Thanks!

[fiorituranotte.livejournal.com]

That's a tough situation. Would a money order be a possibility?

[tskaredoff.livejournal.com]

Maybe. Though getting a money order twice a week is not an appealing prospect, either.

[fiorituranotte.livejournal.com]

No, definitely not convenient. Maybe you could pay her once a week? I'm just trying to think of something that would make you feel better about the whole thing.

[tskaredoff.livejournal.com]

I appreciate that. I think I need to stop thinking about it for a bit and hope I can more rational about it tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestions!

[trudybooth.livejournal.com]

I've always payed more than insurance.

Money orders from the post office are cheap. You could buy a few at a time?

[tskaredoff.livejournal.com]

Thanks, it's hard to figure out what's usual.

That's an idea. It's kind of an appallingly large amount of money to take out of checking at one time, but it has to come out eventually, anyway, all at once or in bits and pieces doesn't really matter.

H needs to call about moving his next appointment; I told him I need to talk to her about the cash situation, so we'll see what she says. I doubt he brought up the problem with him carrying cash when they talked.

[lili-beth.livejournal.com]

t, I think if you called her you might be able to work something out, like direct deposit - she must have a business account, right?

[tskaredoff.livejournal.com]

That would be convenient. I will ask!

Thank you