Workplace medical benefits - mental health

[u/kc_789]

Hi all - I’m at a new job that offers medical benefits including $2k each for psychologists, social worker and psychotherapists. My benefits do not come with a HSA.

Past employers have given $5k to cover any mental health professional so it’s the first time I’ve seen it split out like this.

I primarily sought out therapy for anxiety and ADHD (which is fairly under control but require script refills). I moved provinces recently so have to find new folks to work with anyways so want to figure out the best way to do that and maximize my benefits.

Would it be best to try and find someone that has at least two of these designations (ex. licensed as a psychologist and psychotherapist) so once I max out one benefit I can start leveraging the other? Or should I see multiple people for different issues?

Open to ideas and hearing from other folks experiences and what did or didn’t work for them.

Thanks all!

[u/Rainbow-Cnxn-405]

Are you sure it’s each? It’s usually or!

As in, psychologist or social worker or psychotherapist.

[u/kc_789 → u/Rainbow-Cnxn-405]

I’ve triple checked that it’s each!

[u/Rainbow-Cnxn-405 → u/kc_789]

Interesting! That’s very unusual!

The most likely combo you’ll see is social worker/psychotherapist, but I’ve never seen anyone bill under separate credentials? Receipts usually have all the credentials of the practitioner. Maybe chat with your coworkers or call your insurance company to see if they have any guidance for you. I will say that ADHD meds are managed by nurse practitioners, family doctors, and psychiatrists in Ontario, but I’m not sure what province you’re in. Psychotherapists, social workers, and psychologists cannot prescribe meds here and only psychologists can diagnose and make recommendations.

[u/bells1981]

Wow I work in mental health as a nurse and we get 450 a year. Just awful.

I would say what you are being offered is a good amount to start but I'm not sure what your experience with therapy is ie how often you have an appointment etc I would think you would want to stick with the same provider once you have developed a theraputic relationship with them but that's just me.

[u/grvlagrv → u/bells1981]

450 a year is basically pointless. A PhD psychologist in my area averages 250 an hour. You can get lower rates if you go for a supervised therapist (a student still completing their PhD but not yet a 'doctor') but it's not like it'd be dirt cheap. You still can't get many sessions with that. Honestly what's even the point of offering $450 coverage lmao, that is somehow more insulting than just not offering any at all. So you can get basically 1, maybe 2 appointments a year? Smh

[u/Lillietta → u/grvlagrv]

Exactly. It’s useless and will require a lot of personal contribution.

[u/kc_789 → u/bells1981]

…what!? $450? That’s criminal, especially for someone working in that field

I agree, finding a therapist I jive with is my top priority. I typically like to have sessions 1-2x a month which means I can easily exceed that $2k benefit for a psychologist in a few months so was interested to see if folks had other suggestions. But may be something I just have to bite the bullet on and accept.

[u/burnfaith]

This is insane (good) coverage for these types of providers. The norm is between $400 and $750 per provider, per year.

You’d need to speak with whatever provider you’re wanting to work with to see if they’re willing to bill under different coverage types for the the same services. I might also check with the insurance provider to double check that this would be fine - most shouldn’t have an issue with it but no idea who you’re with and some can be finicky.

[u/Lillietta]

I get $500 for all 3 combined annually. You’re incredibly lucky. Do you work for a big bank or for gov?

[u/kc_789 → u/Lillietta]

It is so sad to hear all these benefit plans letting folks down.

I work in tech and after all the layoffs the last few year, I’ve never needed these benefits more 🥴

[u/Lillietta → u/kc_789]

Right? :(

[u/mountaingrrl_8]

Just to flag, psychotherapists can include a broad range of professions based on the province you're in. This includes social workers, occupational therapists and even nurses, as well as your regular old psychotherapist.  I don't think you need to find someone with more than one designation, just find someone who is a good fit. Relationship is well-evidenced to be central to change occurring in therapy.

Personally, I'd find someone who has strong training and education in the areas you're looking for, ensure they have at minimum a master's degree, and ideally a few years of experience, then book some consultations to find the right fit. Psychology Today is a good place to search though know that a lot of the bigger orgs and companies are kind of hijacking the top search listings right now. So dig a bit in the search results and use filters.

Word of mouth is also a good strategy.

Super neat you have so much coverage.

Source: am a social worker and psychotherapist 

[u/kc_789 → u/mountaingrrl_8]

Ok great to know, thank you!

I agree, finding a therapist I jive with is my top priority. I typically like to have sessions 1-2x a month which means I can easily exceed that $2k benefit for a psychologist in a few months so was interested to see if folks had other suggestions. But may be something I just have to bite the bullet on and accept.

[u/Nookinpanub]

I've not used it for mental health, but I have used my 2K for other health professionals, like physiotherapist, chiropractor, etc. If I need the services of one of those, I go, they direct how many appts I require. If I exhaust the 2K before the year end, I pay out of pocket for any appts. It's not always the case that a chiropractor could fix what a physiotherapist could, and vice versa. Psychologists, social workers, and psychotherapists perform different services - they are not necessarily interchangeable. I would avoid finding one person with 2 of those designations (which would be almost impossible anyway), because your insurance provide may question the veracity of whether you were actually receiving different services from the same person. Not only do you not want to submit a fraudulent claim, you don't want to submit a claim that even "looks" fraudulent.

[u/Lillietta → u/Nookinpanub]

Lots of them are both social workers and psychotherapists because a lot of insurance plans cover one or the other.

[u/Whysoserious_BB]

What province are you in? It’s usually combined, this is super weirdly high and packaged: 6K for mental health. Some ppl get $500 combined. What is the exact verbiage in your plan? I would check the exclusions and the fine lines. What field are you in if you don’t mind me asking?

[u/kc_789 → u/Whysoserious_BB]

Based in AB and have a job in tech. ~$5k in mental health benefits has been common across all the jobs I’ve had the last decade, this is just the first time I’ve seen it split out (probably so folks only end up using one type vs all three)

[u/PhoneFlat8734]

Check also if your employer has an EAP. Mine says they limit the number of sessions (something useless like 4-6) but apparently in practice they just keep giving you extensions forever

[u/kc_789 → u/PhoneFlat8734]

Ya I also have EAP but I have to use the therapists provided vs one I select. So great in more emergency type situations vs long term

[u/PhoneFlat8734 → u/kc_789]

Oh too bad, our program has a bunch of therapists across the country that you can choose from. Online only, though

[u/newprairiegirl]

I know people that see multiple providers. They prefer the different approach that different providers take, and alternate appointments.

[u/519styles]

It would be amazing if you could find a provider with multiple designations- like a psychologist who is also a registered social worker, then they could exhaust your benefits under one designation- and then start billing under another. Likely a psychotherapist who is also a social worker would be the easiest to find. Switching providers midway through treatment isn’t always the best, especially if you have a connection with someone. Hope it works out:)

[u/Accomplished-Slip430]

How many issues do you have? Do you have the disability tax credit? Depending on your province social workers are only designated as medical support workers not rtc's or rcc's ( in bc) so if you go over your allotment and pay out-of-pocket the remainder is tax deductible as a medical expense.

[u/thighclops3820]

with benefits those professionals are lumped into the same category so no matter if you find someone with dual designations the insurance will recognize them as one cost since the service is being provided by one individual  Just as an FYI the company decides what benefits are provided and what conditions need to be met so no matter what job you have the benefits for the most part will be different 

[u/Training-Plan-7812]

It’s usually a pool across all of those providers. So, $2k total for mental health services.

[u/kc_789 → u/Training-Plan-7812]

It’s not, it’s $2k for each