Policies & Insurance
Office Hours
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other times by special arrangement

Emergency Hours
If unable to reach Dr. Neel, call your physician, psychiatrist or go to your nearest hospital emergency room.

Missed or cancelled appointments
If you are unable to keep an appointment, please give 24 hours notice. Otherwise, you will be charged for the appointment.

Fees
Fees are comparable with other mental health professionals in the area, and many insurance companies cover Dr. Neel's services. Her office will file insurance claims monthly once you have provided all the necessary information concerning your coverage. Co-payment is expected at each session (or full payment if your insurance does not cover services or you choose not to file insurance claims for these services). There will be a $20 fee for returned checks.

Low cost options are sometimes available from professionals who are working on their internship in psychotherapy.

To learn more about what information that you will need from your insurance company, see below.

Insurance Coverage
Note: The information in this section is intended as a consumer guideline and does not guarantee services or insurance benefits. For additional office policies and procedures, please contact the office for details.

How to Determine Your Insurance Coverage
If you have a health benefits policy, it will usually provide some coverage for mental health treatment. It is very important that you find out exactly what mental health services your insurance policy covers. Carefully read the section in your insurance coverage booklet that describes mental health services and then call your plan to verify your eligibility. It is your responsibility to relay this information to me. Pre-authorization may be necessary. Once obtained, it is strongly recommended that you verify that the authorization is in place prior to your first appointment.

If there is a change in your insurance coverage, you must let my office know immediately. If your insurance coverage changes and you don't notify me in advance, then you will be responsible for the full amount of your bill (for example, if pre-certification is necessary, yet not obtained).

Ask the following questions:
  • Does my policy cover out-of-network mental health services?
If out-of-network services are covered, ask:
  • Do I need preauthorization in order to make an appointment? If so, how do I obtain it?
  • Does my provider need to call the insurance company directly in order to receive services?
  • What is my deductible for these services?
  • What is my co-payment for these services, or, what percent does insurance pay per visit? Do my co-payments apply toward my deductible?
  • What is the maximum number of visits per year? Is my year considered by calendar dates (January-December) or measured by some other dates (ex., July-June)?
  • What, if any, treatment reports does my therapist need to complete? Please mail or fax necessary forms to her.
Some insurance companies require reauthorization at periodic intervals of treatment. Pay attention to the expiration dates and track the number of sessions authorized. It is important to note this information and helpful to remind Dr. Neel when reauthorization is approaching. This will help make sure that the necessary approvals have been obtained ahead of time.

Dr. Neel will work with you to understand how the information you receive from your insurance carrier applies to your particular situation. If necessary to resolve confusion, she is willing to make a follow up phone call to the insurance company. Dr. Neel will also refer you to other qualified service providers if your insurance company does not cover her services.

The information in this section is intended as a consumer guideline and does not guarantee services or insurance benefits. For additional office policies and procedures, please contact the office for details.