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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 11 to 35 of 36. Go back in thread:
Posted by just plain jane on October 23, 2004, at 21:10:15
In reply to Re: no, i win!!!, posted by gardenergirl on October 23, 2004, at 19:45:54
All my Mental Health services, including my meds, are "free". I am a Disabled Veteran, and a portion of my disability is psychological disorders due to incidents which occurred while I was in the Army and were caused by Army personnel.
just plain jane
Posted by boomarang on October 23, 2004, at 21:41:47
In reply to AHEM!!, posted by just plain jane on October 23, 2004, at 21:10:15
Posted by badhaircut on October 24, 2004, at 7:47:31
In reply to AHEM!!, posted by just plain jane on October 23, 2004, at 21:10:15
I've wondered about this before. To get coverage by the Veterans, do you have to go to a VA-run clinic, or can you go to anybody?
Posted by just plain jane on October 24, 2004, at 9:26:02
In reply to Veterans coverage » just plain jane, posted by badhaircut on October 24, 2004, at 7:47:31
bhc
I am not sure.
In my area the nearest VA facilities with MH Ts are a hundred miles away. So, I drive two hours to get there. Where I live (in the boondocks) that is no big deal.
My advice to you is to get hold of your local VA Rep and make an appointment to see a VA health care screener. I believe this is the first step. The VA Rep does not need to know any details of your situation. The screener does, and will have a long list of questions and, if any good at his job, will discuss things with you so his report will be informative. Some questions will pertain to your financial situation.
The screener was the one who set me up for an appointment with my first VA T. Had I indicated I felt a need to see the Pdoc first, the screener would have accomodated me with an appt to see the Pdoc. Of course, this will all be subject to what kind of person the screener you deal with is.
He would also be the one to ask first about whether outside MH professionals are ever used in your area. I've found, generally, veterans deal with VA professionals.
Many of the VA professionals also have outside practices. Everyone I've dealt with has been as competent, or more so, as the multitude of non-VA MH professionals I've worked with.
The answer to your specific question, once again: I do not know if the VA will cover a veteran's MH care outside VA providers.
It'll take a little local homework to get your answers. Be persistent.
just plain jane
Posted by caraher on October 24, 2004, at 21:32:55
In reply to What is your T's fee?, posted by Skittles on October 22, 2004, at 23:46:50
$110 for 50 minutes (PhD with about 10 years' experience)
Posted by babbgal on October 24, 2004, at 23:51:15
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee?, posted by caraher on October 24, 2004, at 21:32:55
$150 for sessions ranging from 50 minutes to 2 hours. (Ph.D. with over 20 years' experience.)
Insurance covers unlimited visits in a 12-month period and pays 70%, but now that I've reached my max out-of-pocket for the year, insurance pays 100%. Thank the husband's work for the awesome insurance.
Posted by LittleGirlLost on October 25, 2004, at 10:32:37
In reply to What is your T's fee?, posted by Skittles on October 22, 2004, at 23:46:50
My T is a LCSW, DCSW, CGP with 20 years experience and I think she charges about $140 for 50 minutes.
However, she is not covered with my insurance and she knows I can't afford the full fee, so she charges me $50. (Bless her heart!)
Posted by morning*bell on October 25, 2004, at 10:41:32
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee?, posted by LittleGirlLost on October 25, 2004, at 10:32:37
Shes a PhD, and charges me $175 for 45 minutes. Ugh! I do get some insurance covereage though, so that helps.
Posted by alexandra_k on October 25, 2004, at 23:24:09
In reply to What is your T's fee?, posted by Skittles on October 22, 2004, at 23:46:50
OMG what are you guys: doctors, lawyers, or heirs to riches - how can anyone afford to spend that much on psychotherapy?????
I have never paid a cent.
I couldn't afford to pay more than maybe $10 pw.
I could make a comment about the quality of treatment I have received, but I suppose to be fair it was compentant.I suppose that the psychobabble community is likely to be composed of (comparatively) high functioning wealthy individuals, but boy oh boy I forget just how much money some people do have.
I hate CBT. Too many little boxes to rate ones progress on. Too superficial and too many 'platitudes' which are supposed to ammount to education. But CBT comes up good on 'objective measures' of outcomes - largely because the people involved in CBT are anal enough to believe in their operational definitions of progress.
Personally, I have much more respect for psychodynamic modes of psychotherapy. Not so many outcomes though with respect to improvement. I think that to be fair it is hard to operationalise progress and so forth. But without objective measures the question remains: is psychotherapy a luxury for the rich?
It seems as though it is.
Those sick enough to need it can't afford it.And those indulgent enough to want it
MUST PAY
Posted by alexandra_k on October 26, 2004, at 0:14:31
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee?, posted by alexandra_k on October 25, 2004, at 23:24:09
Posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 0:24:45
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee?, posted by alexandra_k on October 25, 2004, at 23:24:09
I think that is pretty arrogant and judgemental of you to say. First of all, let's just get one thing straight: doctors don't make as much as you might think, with the exception of plastic surgeons or other specialists who do not accept any form of insurance. And you really would not fully understand that unless you worke in the medical field, or have a very close friend or relative who does.
I am a nineteen-year-old college student, so I am covered under my parents' plan, although counseling and other psychiatric/psychological services are available on campus free of charge. In that respect, it would not be fair of me to guage the extent of my insurance coverage or my parents' ability to pay sans insurance. However, I do know, and will admit, that when it comes to necessaties such as my health (mental or otherwise), or that of anyone else in my family, money is not a big concern.
I don't mean for any of this to sound conceited, but to be honest, if you don't have your health, what do you have? Yeah, good healthcare tends to be expensive, but I think you have to consider it a necessity, and maybe sacrifice other things in order to get it; spending money on second-rate healthcare is pointless if it doesn't do any good, and it doesn't get you what you need.
Posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 0:25:56
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee?, posted by alexandra_k on October 25, 2004, at 23:24:09
sorry, that post was meant for Alexandra_K....sorry Skittles!!
Posted by alexandra_k on October 26, 2004, at 0:50:53
In reply to Re: Skittles' comment, posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 0:24:45
It is all relative.
Sure, doctors make 'nothing' unless you have lived all your life on welfare knowing that without that government cheque you are stealing your next meal.
It is all relative.
Rich, poor
Luxuries, necessitiesRelative
Posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 0:56:43
In reply to Re: Skittles' comment, posted by alexandra_k on October 26, 2004, at 0:50:53
Ok, fine, I can't really disagree with that. However, I think that you should be aware of your surroundings, so to speak, and realize that you may be offending some people. Just because someone is "rich" doesn't make them a bad person.
Posted by alexandra_k on October 26, 2004, at 1:27:28
In reply to Re: Skittles' comment, posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 0:56:43
> Ok, fine, I can't really disagree with that. However, I think that you should be aware of your surroundings, so to speak, and realize that you may be offending some people. Just because someone is "rich" doesn't make them a bad person.
Whoo - I never said "rich" people were bad people, and I never would. I do realise that the "self-indulgent" and "luxury" comments were likely to cause offence, and I apologised for that. But I never said the bad person stuff.What I was thinking is that all of us (me included) don't seem to realise how lucky we are. In the sense of money. Financial security. Sure students are poor - but tuition gets paid, living expenses get met, someone covers the insurance. We get our high-speed internet connection.
I am amazingly rich now by the standards I was raised by (and I am a "poor student" too). We don't get the slums you guys get in the States - but I was raised the equivalent of white trailor trash in this lovely welfare country.
From that perspective "needs" and "luxuries" are surely different. Even food is relative - you can go without for a few days, you don't starve to death, hence it is not a "need". But it is not enough of a luxury so as to condemn the man who steals it. Not in my book anyway. How many starving children could we save with the money we feed to psychotherapy (which has not been measured for effectiveness)?
Relative.
Posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 1:56:38
In reply to Re: Skittles' comment, posted by alexandra_k on October 26, 2004, at 1:27:28
1) This is starting to get a little too political for my taste, especially because that is not the purpose of this website.
2) If you don't think money would be put to better use by giving it to "starving children" rather than spending it on psychotherapy, then do that and don't complain about how much you have to pay for your treatment.
3) I never said students are poor, and I don't think you should make a blanket statement like that, because it is simply not true...I certainly am not by any means.
Posted by Dinah on October 26, 2004, at 8:29:15
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee?, posted by alexandra_k on October 25, 2004, at 23:24:09
By some standards I might be considered wealthy. By prevailing local standards, I'm middle class. Our cars last 8-12 years. Our furniture is decidedly ratty. I still wear clothing I had before I was pregnant with my 8 year old son. (Some clothing have amazing abilities to fit different sizes.) We almost never vacation. I sometimes think I work for therapy money. :) But that's not altogether true. I also contribute to household expenses.
Therapy cost is also relative. Sometimes when I go more often, I get scared of the cost. But if I compare it to the direct cost of one hospitalization, it's cost effective. If I factor in the indirect costs of one hospitalization, it's really cost effective. If I factor in the fact that it keeps me up and working (usually), paying my taxes, raising a hopefully healthier than I am son it becomes so cost effective it's not even funny.
Same thing with the meds I take. Not only the financial costs, but I was complaining that I wasn't able to put in the hours I'd like at work, and I'm not feeling as sharp as I like, since starting my new med. But before that I was considering suicide and not working at all hardly.
And therapy may not be proven under some standards, but it's proven for my life. My therapist is gone often enough that I have opportunity to tell how I do with or without.
I understand how frustrated you are with the difficulty in finding non-CBT mental health care where you are, with efficacy studies driving therapy, etc. I'd be frustrated too.
I also am sorry that not everyone is as lucky as I am to be married to a man that can meet many of the household expenses, allowing me to use so much of my own salary for therapy.
But you're up and off to college! Perhaps one day you too will be stuck in the loop of being fortunate enough to be able to work in a way to enable you to pay for the therapy which enables you to work.
Sigh. Now I want to quit work, which would probably enable me to quit the therapy that enables me to work. But then I might be the sort of mom my parents were to me. :(
Posted by Skittles on October 26, 2004, at 9:27:19
In reply to Re: Skittles' comment, posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 0:24:45
It wasn't MY comment. I simply asked what different T's charged. You are certainly entitled to your opinion and to express it on this forum. Just be sure you get your facts straight next time you choose to chastise someone here.
Posted by Skittles on October 26, 2004, at 9:29:15
In reply to Relativity » alexandra_k, posted by Dinah on October 26, 2004, at 8:29:15
Posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 10:36:18
In reply to It wasn't MY comment - just to clarify (nm), posted by Skittles on October 26, 2004, at 9:29:15
My comment was meant for alexandra_k, and I apologized for that
Posted by alexandra_k on October 26, 2004, at 18:41:03
In reply to Re: Skittles' comment, posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 1:56:38
> 1) This is starting to get a little too political for my taste, especially because that is not the purpose of this website.
I didn't mean it to be political. I know nothing about politics. I guess that I was just suprised about how much money people were forking out for psychotherapy. I was also a bit concerned that this was becoming a thread of 'one-up-man-ship', MY therapist charges the most, MINE charges the least, MINE is the most qualified etc etc. I do appreciate that it is interesting to see whether price is directly related to subjective satisfaction etc, and I appreciate that that was the intention of the thread, I just wanted to have my 2 cents worth (MY words cost less :-) - but can't you tell???!)
> 2) If you don't think money would be put to better use by giving it to "starving children" rather than spending it on psychotherapy, then do that and don't complain about how much you have to pay for your treatment.
I am not complaining. Like I said, mine is free. I wasn't even telling people that I think their money would be better spent there. I freely admit that when I do get money, I do not send it to the starving. I was just reflecting on how lucky we are to live in a society where spending all that money on psychotherapy (that has not been proved to be effective) is considered a NEED.
> 3) I never said students are poor, and I don't think you should make a blanket statement like that, because it is simply not true...I certainly am not by any means.
No kidding, that certaintly came through in your posts. Enjoy, you are one of the lucky ones. You cannot believe or appreciate just how much financial security is worth in terms of self-esteem etc etc unless you have gone without. All I am saying is just spare a thought occasionally for those who are less fortunate. Realise how lucky and privaledged you are - I reflect on this and I am by all means a "poor student". Over here students are often referred to as "poor" because they are in comparison with the earnings they will have when they hit the workforce. Apologies if you thought I was specifically calling you "poor" - as I said, it is only too obvious that you are not.
Sorry Skittles about the error in the subject heading, it got wrong to start with and the responses just kind of got tagged on. I hope I haven't stabotaged your thread. I'll bugger off now.
Posted by alexandra_k on October 26, 2004, at 18:51:46
In reply to Relativity » alexandra_k, posted by Dinah on October 26, 2004, at 8:29:15
Hey Dinah, would you believe that I was thinking about this thread before I went off to sleep last night and I worried about how you would respond / react to it! I say this because I have read some of your threads where you have talked about your concern about how much money you do spend on therapy at times. I really didn't want to upset people.
I agree with you about 'effectiveness'. I know that in my own case when I am working well with someone it is much more cost effective for the mental health service. I haven't SI'd in a couple of years, but when I used to SI it would be the difference between being a highly functioning student, and being in hospital with severe cuts from SI on 24 hour obs and off my face on medication because when you have got the vegetable thing going on then you aren't so busy devising ways to top yourself.
I hate it when people try to measure effectiveness for a diagnosis then predict how effective it will be for me on the basis of my diagnosis. I am an individual dammit. I am not a typical case of anything.
What my point is, though, is that when therapy clearly is so effective (in your case, and mine, and in many other peoples) when it is so effective that it clearly is a need - then why do you guys have to pay for it like it is a luxury? That is what gets to me. And those who are functioning so badly that therapy could make all the difference in the world - well, they are the ones who can't afford it. Sure I whinge a fair bit about how I can't get (free) adequate treatment here, but to be fair I had the opportunity to do one year of DBT, and how many people (who qualify) get that - free or otherwise.
Posted by morning*bell on October 26, 2004, at 21:12:13
In reply to Re: Relativity, posted by alexandra_k on October 26, 2004, at 18:51:46
>>And those who are functioning so badly that therapy could make all the difference in the world - well, they are the ones who can't afford it. <<
I don't think money and social status neccesarily effects the leval of mental suffereing one goes under... I'd give up a hell of alot of my well earned money not have suffered like this for 10 years...
Posted by Dr. Bob on October 27, 2004, at 7:52:33
In reply to Re: Skittles' comment, posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 0:24:45
> I think that is pretty arrogant and judgemental of you to say.
Please don't post anything that could lead others to feel accused or put down.
If you or others have questions about this or about posting policies in general, or are interested in alternative ways of expressing yourself, please see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
Follow-ups regarding these issues should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration. They, as well as replies to the above post, should of course themselves be civil.
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by Clarinette on October 28, 2004, at 21:42:36
In reply to What is your T's fee?, posted by Skittles on October 22, 2004, at 23:46:50
45 euros for about 30 to 40 minutes. I get 30 something back off the Sécurité Sociale (state health cover) and the rest back from my health insurance (I pay half of the insurance fee, 26 euros a month, my employer pays the rest) .
As for credentials, graduated from the Faculté de Médecine de Paris, was an Intern and Assistant for the psychiatric Hospitals of the Seine, currently works in a county public psychiatric hospital as well as his private practice.
This is par for the course in France.
The BP specialist I saw charges 80 euros a time, I'll get the same 30 something back of the Social Security, but I don't know how much my insurance will give me.
Seems like it's less expensive over here guys!
Bonsoir,
Clara
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