The New Year brings hope, resolutions, and, in some cases, insurance changes. Employers reevaluate their plans, insurance companies tweak their policies, and deductibles reset. Big or small, these changes have an effect on your ABA journey, so let’s look at some ways to make the insurance transition work for you!
Is your provider still in-network?
The biggest and most important change to look out for is a change in your insurance’s in-network providers. While some insurances allow you to see out-of-network providers, this often comes with a much higher price tag so it is important to make sure that you are still
able to see your current providers.
Insurance websites often have easy-to-use search tools to find which providers are in-network. You can also call your provider directly. They should be able to quickly tell you if they are still able to take your insurance.
If your ABA provider is no longer able to accept your insurance, they are ethically obligated to provide you options of other providers in the area.
Same plan, new policies
Insurance providers can change their rules on how much ABA therapy they will cover. In addition, insurance companies don’t always see eye to eye with a BCBA’s recommendation of hours. This can be extremely frustrating for all parties involved because what we want is the best for your child.
In the case that your insurance approves less hours than recommended, we suggest leaning on your ABA provider. Like we said, we are here to give your child the services they need. It may take time, but the reports we file with the insurance companies can show that more therapy is needed. So advocate with your ABA provider and work together to get the hours your child needs!
More out-of-pocket expenses
The new year often means starting over with your deductible. No one likes it, but it is an unfortunate part of our insurance system. So what can you do? Really, the best advice is to know it’s coming and try to make a plan for it. A few cuts here and there can really help until you’ve met your deductible.
If you are having trouble paying for all of it, pay for as much as you can, save receipts, and send them to your insurer. This offers proof to them that you are doing what you can. They can’t keep track of something they can’t see. But if they can see it, they are usually more likely to work with you on a long-term plan.
Insurance changes are never fun and can be really stressful. If you have more questions or concerns, give us a call, and we would be happy to talk with you!