Beginning therapy is an important investment in your well-being. I want the financial aspects of treatment to be as straightforward as possible. If you have any questions about fees, insurance, or payment options, I encourage you to contact me before your first appointment.

Fees

  • Initial intake appointment (60 minutes): $280
  • Psychotherapy session (60 minutes): $260
  • Psychotherapy session (45 minutes): $195

Payment is due at the time of service unless other arrangements have been made.

I accept cash, checks, Visa/Mastercard, and HSA/FSA cards.

Using Insurance

I am currently an in-network provider with:

  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield
  • Medica
  • UnitedHealthcare / Optum
  • Medical Assistance

If I am considered an out-of-network provider under your plan, payment is due at the time of service. Depending on your insurance benefits, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement. Upon request, I am happy to provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company.

Please remember that insurance benefits vary by plan. Although I will make every effort to help you understand your coverage, you are ultimately responsible for any deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, or services not covered by your insurance.

Choosing to Pay Directly

Some clients choose not to use their health insurance and instead pay directly for therapy.

Paying privately generally provides greater privacy because information about your diagnosis and treatment is not submitted to an insurance company. In addition, insurance companies typically require that your therapist assign a mental health diagnosis and document that treatment is medically necessary in order to reimburse services.

If you have questions about the advantages or disadvantages of using insurance versus paying directly, I would be happy to discuss them with you.

Questions to Ask Your Insurance Company

Before your first appointment, I recommend contacting your insurance company and asking:

  • Do I have coverage for outpatient mental health services?
  • What is my deductible, and how much has already been met?
  • What are my copayment or coinsurance responsibilities?
  • Do I have out-of-network benefits?
  • If I have out-of-network benefits, what percentage of the fee will be reimbursed, and what is the plan’s allowed amount?
  • Are services provided by Joy Piccolino, Psy.D., a licensed psychologist, covered under my plan?
  • Do I need prior authorization before beginning treatment?

Appointments, Cancellations and No-Shows

Appointment times are reserved specifically for you. Because I do not “double-book” appointments as is sometimes the case with medical providers, I ask that you provide at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule.

Appointments canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or missed appointments, may be charged the full session fee or handled according to your insurance plan unless we both agree that the circumstances were unavoidable. I understand that illnesses and emergencies sometimes occur, and I will extend the same consideration to you should I ever need to cancel an appointment unexpectedly.

Questions?

If you have any questions about fees, insurance coverage, or payment options, please feel free to contact me before scheduling your first appointment. I want you to have a clear understanding of the financial aspects of treatment so you can focus on what matters most—your therapy.