calicowgirl

I'm trying to find a phychiatrist in San Diego that accepts HealthNet through Medi-Cal to cover my phych eval. I found one that accepts my insurance for everything BUT evals! Is this what I'm going to find with everyone? They wanted $300! Does anyone know where I can go that will be covered by HealthNet (in San Diego) or that charges a resonable amount? HELP!

EasyRider

You may not have much luck. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield of ND and they will not pay for the eval. Sounds like the cost is only about 60 bucks tho.

splendifor

a few quick questions since I am not in Calif but I kinda know psych/health ins stuff some..

the $300 test.. I don't think you need anything that in-depth (that's about 2 hrs of testing and what I know about the psych letter is they ask you some q's and write up a report about your weight loss attempts, supports, etc etc etc.. it's not a "Psychological Evaluation" per-se (caps intended)

Things to find out/ask about (insurance company or whoever the letter/evaluation is for):
1. What kind of credentials does the evaluator need?
2. What content should the evaluation have?
3. Ask them to send you a list of people who they accept that cover this service (they CAN do that - they should - now how up-to-date and accurate the list might be is another story...)

The $300 test is done by a MD-psychiatrist or a DPsy -doctorate of psychology and I think that might be overkill... You MOST LIKELY (of course I'm speaking from another state) could use anyyyyyyyyy therapist that has a license - such as an LCSW or LPC. My surgical center had a list of people they suggested (not demanded) and one person I know used the therapist they were already seeing. The clinic was able to tell her what the letter needed to entail. I have a therapist but ended up going to the psychologist the center had on site because the evaluation was specific to having surgery, which was needed and not my therapist's specialty (he also wasn't that comfortable about writing a letter for something he knew little about at that time - he has learned more since but that was then )

__________________
Surgery Date: 4/23/08
Surgery weight - 275
Current weight - 171
Goal - 130 or somewhere in the area...

Yeah yeah I need a new picture

Godsblessedme

i personaly paid 250$ for my pych eval. Rather than deal with all the insurance crap it was faster to just pay for it myself

__________________
Deborah
Highest weight 268
Surgery Date: 12/18/07 Lap RNY
Current Loss: However far this journey will take me Current Weight:175 (10/26/09) and finally a SIZE 12

bridgetgirl

Dont tell them you just need an eval or consult. Tell them you need counseling for "weight issues". This does the trick. When you meet with the therapist you can tell them then your are "thinking" about WLS. The rest will play out to your favor.

Good luck!

__________________
J.Bridget Fisher aka koi-pea
2/9/04 lap 5'11"
298/172

Find me on face book using this email; bridgetgirl@msn.com

"People will argue with you that getting what you want in life isn’t something you can learn, if you’re destined to be one of the worlds winners as opposed to one of its perpetual whiners, its because you have been born with the right talents and temperament and have a big dose of self-esteem, ambition, and good judgment." Kate White