Fee Schedule and Cancellation Policy

 

Clear Pricing and Insurance Information for Your Peace of Mind

At Orcutt Marriage and Family Counseling, Inc., I want you to feel confident and informed about every aspect of your care, including financial details. Below is an overview of my current fee structure, insurance procedures, and scheduling policies.

If you have any questions or are ready to schedule counseling in Santa Maria or Orcutt, please reach out to my confidential line at (805) 720-4533 or use the contact form at the bottom of this page.

 

 

My Fee Structure

• Session Fee: $150 per 50-minute session for all counseling services, including couples, marriage, child, and individual therapy.

• Payment Due Date: Payment is due in full at the time of your service.

• Credit Card Processing: Please note that credit card payments are accepted online only through my secure client portal and cannot be processed on-site at the office.

 

 

Insurance & Confidentiality: What You Need to Know

 

🔹 CenCal Behavioral Health Accepted

I am an in-network provider for CenCal Behavioral Health. If you carry this coverage, your sessions may be fully or partially covered according to your plan benefits.

 

🔹 Out-of-Network (OON) Commercial Insurance

For all other commercial insurance companies, I am an out-of-network provider. You will be responsible for paying the $150 session fee directly to me at the time of service.

 

🔒 Important Privacy & Insurance Considerations

• Your Permanent Record: When you use insurance coverage, a formal mental health diagnosis must be submitted and will become a permanent part of your medical record.

• Complete Confidentiality: Opting out of insurance and paying out-of-pocket ensures that your psychotherapy treatment remains entirely private, secure, and fully confidential.

• Couples Therapy Limitations: Insurance providers generally do not cover couples counseling unless one partner meets the criteria for a clinical mental health diagnosis, which then stays on their permanent health record.

• Therapeutic Boundaries: Please note that treating clients both individually and as a couple concurrently can create clinical conflicts of interest. To protect the integrity of the therapeutic relationship, I keep these services separate.

 

 

How to Seek Out-of-Network Reimbursement

If you wish to use your out-of-network benefits, I am happy to provide you with a Superbill (an official medical receipt for services). You can submit this document directly to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.

Because every health plan is different, I highly recommend following these four steps before your first scheduled appointment to verify your benefits:

1. Call Customer Service: Dial the phone number located on the back of your insurance card and ask to speak with a representative about your "behavioral health benefits."

2. Ask About Out-of-Network Coverage: Check if your plan includes out-of-network reimbursement. You can explicitly ask if they allow a Single Case Agreement or ask them to provide an "out-of-network reimbursement form."

3. Confirm the Superbill Process: Ask exactly how to submit a Superbill and verify what specific information your insurance provider requires to process your claim.

4. Follow Up on Claims: After you submit your Superbill, call your insurer back to confirm they received it and to check the real-time processing status of your claim.

Note: My practice utilizes a professional, HIPAA-trained practice management team and secure, state-of-the-art electronic systems for all administrative claims processing.

 

 

Good Faith Estimates & The No Surprises Act

Under federal law, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) detailing the expected costs of your medical and mental health care.

• This estimate is built using the clinical information available at the time it is generated and does not include unexpected or unforeseen complications that may arise during our work together.

• If you receive a bill from my office that is at least $400 higher than your official Good Faith Estimate, you maintain the legal right to dispute that bill.

• Please save a printed copy or take a clear photograph of your Good Faith Estimate for your personal financial records.

 

 

24-Hour Cancellation Policy

Your appointment time is strictly reserved for you. If you miss your scheduled therapy appointment or fail to notify me at least 24 hours in advance to cancel or reschedule, you will be required to pay the full $150 cost of the session.

Thank you for choosing Orcutt Marriage and Family Counseling, Inc. for your mental health and wellness needs. I look forward to supporting you!

 

 

​