Health Insurance Coverage
by: David Barnes
Getting Counseling or Therapy through your health insurance.
There are so many different private and state health insurances, each offering different forms of cover. Some health insurances will cover you for therapy and counseling and some simply don’t. This depends on the insurance company and the amount of cover you are paying for. Even if you are covered for therapy or counseling, some health insurance companies have strict limitations in terms of what form of therapy they will pay for.
The easiest way to find out if you can see someone through your health insurance is to contact the company you are covered by and ask them the following questions.
a) Am I covered for therapy or counseling through my health insurance?
b) Are there any limitations in terms of who you can see?
c)How much am I covered for, i.e. will they cover the full costs or just part of the costs?
With reference to question b) some companies will only cover you to see someone who is state registered or has a license to practice in Germany.
It is important to be aware that if you are having therapy or counseling paid for by your health insurance, this will go on record and a diagnosis will be required by your health insurance company.
Some therapists/counselors have no health insurance cover, which means you will have to pay for the full costs. Some have limited cover. They may be covered by your private health insurance but not by a state health insurance. And some are registered through the state and have full cover.
Having a license to practice in another country does not automatically mean they have full cover here in Germany.
To summarize: The first step is to find out if you are covered by your health insurance. When you have this information you can start looking at who you can see. It could be frustrating to start working with someone and then find out they are not covered by your health insurance. Of course, if you are paying privately, these issues are irrelevant.
Health insurance is a complex area. The above information is intended merely as an overview into a field which is as varied as the amount of health insurances available. Look at your contract or speak to your health insurance representative for more concrete information about your personal situation.
by: David Barnes
Getting Counseling or Therapy through your health insurance.
There are so many different private and state health insurances, each offering different forms of cover. Some health insurances will cover you for therapy and counseling and some simply don’t. This depends on the insurance company and the amount of cover you are paying for. Even if you are covered for therapy or counseling, some health insurance companies have strict limitations in terms of what form of therapy they will pay for.
The easiest way to find out if you can see someone through your health insurance is to contact the company you are covered by and ask them the following questions.
a) Am I covered for therapy or counseling through my health insurance?
b) Are there any limitations in terms of who you can see?
c)How much am I covered for, i.e. will they cover the full costs or just part of the costs?
With reference to question b) some companies will only cover you to see someone who is state registered or has a license to practice in Germany.
It is important to be aware that if you are having therapy or counseling paid for by your health insurance, this will go on record and a diagnosis will be required by your health insurance company.
Some therapists/counselors have no health insurance cover, which means you will have to pay for the full costs. Some have limited cover. They may be covered by your private health insurance but not by a state health insurance. And some are registered through the state and have full cover.
Having a license to practice in another country does not automatically mean they have full cover here in Germany.
To summarize: The first step is to find out if you are covered by your health insurance. When you have this information you can start looking at who you can see. It could be frustrating to start working with someone and then find out they are not covered by your health insurance. Of course, if you are paying privately, these issues are irrelevant.
Health insurance is a complex area. The above information is intended merely as an overview into a field which is as varied as the amount of health insurances available. Look at your contract or speak to your health insurance representative for more concrete information about your personal situation.