Insurance & Reimbursement
REAL is considered an “out of network,” provider and does not bill insurance companies directly. You may have an out-of-network benefit, which allows you to see any health professional, pay directly at the time of service, and be partially reimbursed by your insurance provider. The office can provide you with a receipt for services (called a Superbill) so that you have documentation to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Many insurance companies may share at least 50% of fees once an out-of-network deductible is reached.
The best way to determine what portion of fees will be reimbursed by your insurance company is to contact them directly by calling the customer/member services number on the back of your insurance card. (Be sure to look for medical/physician services.) When speaking with your insurance company, you will want to ask them the following questions:
- Do I have “out-of-network” outpatient medical care benefits?
- If so, what is the amount of my deductible (the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company will start to reimburse you) for out-of-network providers? Have I already paid/met any of my annual deductible?
- Are there any limitations to outpatient medical services (i.e. only a certain amount of money allowed for these reimbursements, a limited number of sessions, reimbursement only for certain types of diagnoses, etc.)?
- Do I need any special kind of referral (i.e. from a primary care doctor or my university counseling center) before I can be reimbursed?
- How do I submit my receipt? How long will it take to get reimbursed after I send my receipt?
- Do my benefits cover virtual visits?
- Which lab does my insurance carrier require me to use that is covered by my plan?
