What Should I Know Before Using Insurance For Therapy?
Many clients choose to not use their insurance coverage for therapy. One of the main reasons for this is privacy. Insurance companies require therapists to submit a formal mental health disorder diagnosis to them for any individual on your insurance plan who is seeking insurance coverage for therapy. This means that your diagnosis, and/or the diagnosis of your child or partner, will be seen by multiple individuals within your insurance company, and becomes part of your permanent medical record. As part of your permanent medical record, your diagnosis can be shared with other insurance companies such as life insurance, disability insurance, unemployment insurance and/or other insurance policies down the road. Additionally, your permanent medical record can be accessed and scrutinized by medical doctors, government agencies, and some other organizations during health and medical screenings, personal profile reviews, position applications, and some employment agency screenings. Finally, your personal medical records and information can be subpoenaed for various reasons during some legal proceedings.