What is sliding scale?
Sliding scale is where a provider offers lower rates for families with financial limitations. It allows for clients to not have to choose between mental health services or living expenses.

 

Why is it important?
Crave Counseling offers sliding scale because we are committed to ensure access for all.

 

How do I qualify?
Clients who have high deductible plans and/or have income that falls below the federal poverty line. If you would like to determine eligibility please see slide scale table below.

 

What will disqualify me?
Participants who have insurance but would like to still bill out of network for benefits would not qualify because we are still in network with some panels and if a claim is submitted to the insurance company by the client, insurance will accept it as in network and insurance will be billed at our cash rate.

 

What if I have insurance?
This option is really good for clients who have high deductible plans and can’t afford their out of pocket costs based on insurance requirements. Most clients who decide to use their insurance will have to pay the insurances discounted rates and providers are not allowed to waive it because it would be considered insurance fraud. So if you choose to use the sliding scale options, clients are still not eligible to bill their insurance because we are still in network with some panels. Clients who choose not to bill their insurance and choose the slide scale option do not need a diagnostic code.

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What are future plans of Crave Counseling when it comes to insurance and sliding scale?
As mentioned on some of the other pages on our website, our plan is to switch to a 100% cash based practice to better support clients as we often have clawbacks, have to fight insurance regarding payments and are forced to track clients down for payments that were given to us by insurance and later taken back leaving clients with huge outstanding balances. About 80% of our clients are underinsured and/or have high deductible plans leaving them with giant bills anyway and our main goal is healthcare equity. We will do our best to remain in network with CIGNA and Aetna. We are transitioning away from BCBS and UnitedHealthcare/Optum in the coming moths. If you have out of network benefits and would like to bill your insurance or request a single case agreement, we will bill at the rate of above 200% for clients seeking to bill their out of network benefits.

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No client will be turned away due to their inability to pay and we have slide-scale options available for all. Sliding scale slots are limited but we will try to do our best efforts to accommodate your family. Please use the chart to determine where your rates would fall and which providers would be the best fit for your financial status.

 

Please see example of how to read the chart below:

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I am a mother of 3, wants to see an LPC and I make $27,000 a year, you would go down to the family size of 4 and see that your family falls below below the 2023 federal poverty line. You would pay $75 for sessions. If $75 is too much then you have the option to see a practicum student for $35 a session, an associate at $60 per session or an LPC or LMFT at $75 a session.

 

How do I verify my income to be eligible for slide scale?
Clients will be able to complete a sliding scale application and submit income verification which is a copy of:

• Previous year’s 1040 tax form

• Two months of pay stubs

• 2 unemployment stubs

• Copy of Social Security or Disability Check

• Letter from an employer that states your salary or wages

• Profit Loss Statement (those self-employed)

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What if I don't want to provider verification of income?

If a client does not want to verify income, then the family will be disqualified from being eligible for sliding scale because we are required to collect certain details for reporting purposes.

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What if I can't afford the full cash rate?

No one will be denied access to services due to inability to pay and there is a discounted/sliding fee schedule available based on family size and income.