Question:
Phsyciatric DR. who DOES NOT require Cash up Front????

Does anyone know of a Dr. in the Battle Creek area who will do the physciatric evaluation and either bill my insurance or let me pay afterward in payments? All the Dr's I call want money up front. Thay say this is because the surgery is considered cosmetic. I am not having it just for cosmetic reasons though. Any way around this?    — Patricia H. (posted on April 10, 2002)

April 11, 2002
Hi! Have you asked your surgeon or his office staff for a referral to someone for the psych evaluation? If you have insurance, it just seems to me that all you'd need to pay was the co-pay. I don't know anyone in your area, but I hope that your surgeon can help you find someone suitable! Best of luck!
   — blank first name B.

April 11, 2002
Hi! I'm sorry to hear of your frustrations with the psych eval fees. I know first hand that this is a very common frustration. I asked the psychologist who does the evals for our surgeons why the funds had to be paid up front and she told me that, unfortunately, most patients simply don't pay. (Please don't flame me, folks, I'm just passing along info - I'd never suggest that you wouldn't pay!) So, as a result, for this type of evaluation most psychologists require payment up front. She did offer a couple of good alternatives that might be helpful to you, though. She allows our patients to "make payments" via automatic debit from your checking account. She can set it up through your debit card or directly through your checking account. This ensures that she will be paid for her services but relieves you, the patient, from that heavy financial burden all at once. You might suggest this to the psychologist's office. Another thing - you can request a letter from your insurance company verifying coverage for a psychiatric evaluation. If you give this to you psychologist's office prior to your evaluation they may accept the deductible only. Be aware, however, that many insurance policies have a separate mental health deductible from their medical deductible. It's something you'll want to check before hand. I hope these suggestions are useful to you. Best wishes!!
   — ronascott