Why Private?

Why Choose a Private Pay Neuropsychological Evaluation for Your Child?

When considering a neuropsychological evaluation, you might wonder whether to go with a private pay option or rely on medical insurance. Below are some reasons why a private pay evaluation may best meet the needs of your child and family.

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illustration line art of two people seated at a desk one of which is working on completing an evaluation

Personalized and In-Depth Assessments

Private pay evaluations allow for a more personalized approach. Often, insurance companies only approve a certain number of “units” (hours) that can be used to complete the assessment and/only certain diagnoses that they will cover. For example, many insurance companies will not cover evaluations for ADHD or learning disabilities as they deem these concerns to be educational and not medical.

Without the limitations set by insurance companies, Dr. Travers can take the time needed to thoroughly assess your child’s cognitive, social-emotional, and learning profile and needs. This means a more accurate understanding of your child’s strengths and needs with a tailored action plan that truly fits your child, including thoughtful collaboration with not only caregivers, but school staff, medical providers, and other members of your child’s team. These evaluations also provide an opportunity for observations (e.g., classroom, program) to best understand your child in the real world. These collaborations and observations are not covered by insurance companies.

Quick and Flexible Scheduling

Time is often of the essence when it comes to your child’s development. Private pay evaluations typically offer faster scheduling and shorter wait times, so you can get the answers you need without delay. Plus, you’ll enjoy more flexibility in setting appointments that fit your family’s schedule.

Access to Top Experts and Referrals

Dr. Travers has trained and worked in a variety of hospitals, schools, and community programs across Massachusetts, allowing her to develop expertise in the treatment and diagnosis of many neurodevelopmental challenges such as autism, ADHD, OCD, learning disorders, anxiety, and mood disorders. Additionally, she has built an extensive network of multidisciplinary colleagues, allowing her to provide warm and targeted referrals within disciplines such as speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, counseling, psychiatry, academic tutoring, executive function coaching, educational advocacy, among others. The private pay evaluation affords Dr. Travers the time to ensure your next steps and resources are in place before completing the evaluation process.

Opportunity for Timely Follow-Up

It is Dr. Travers’ goal is to have families complete the evaluation process with a better understanding of their child’s areas of strength and needs and to receive tailored recommendations to support action steps in the classroom, home, and beyond. Often families have follow-up questions weeks and months after the evaluation process. Children’s and families’ needs can also change. Therefore, private pay evaluations allow Dr. Travers to offer two 30 minute follow-ups during the calendar year of the evaluation to answer additional follow-up questions and to provide additional referrals as needed. One of these follow-up sessions can be personalized for your child to receive feedback about their profile utilizing a developmentally appropriate approach.

Greater Privacy and Confidentiality

Last, for many families, privacy is a top concern. With private pay evaluations, your child’s information stays between you and the clinician, without the need to share details with insurance companies.

Choosing a private pay neuropsychological evaluation means choosing a path that prioritizes your child’s unique needs and offers the best possible care. It’s an investment in their future, providing you with the insights and support needed to help them thrive.

How to Maximize Your Benefits When Using an Out-of-Network Provider

Dr. Travers wants to support those looking to use their medical insurance through out-of-network benefits and other benefits. Below are some tips to help you navigate this process:

Out-of-Network Benefits:

Review Your Insurance Policy: Start by reviewing your health insurance policy to understand your out-of-network benefits. Many insurance plans offer partial reimbursement for services provided by out-of-network providers, such as neuropsychological evaluations. If out-of-network coverage/reimbursement is offered by your specific plan, provide them with a copy of the Good Faith Estimate (provided by Dr. Travers) and ask if they can give you an estimate of how much they will reimburse you following the evaluation.
Save Your Superbill: After the evaluation, Dr. Travers will generate a detailed invoice for your records, which is also called a superbill. This document will include all necessary information, such as procedure codes and provider details, required by your insurance company for reimbursement.
Submit a Claim: Contact your insurance company to learn about their claim submission process. You will typically need to fill out a claim form and attach the superbill. Be sure to keep copies of all documents for your records.
Follow Up: After submission, follow up with your insurance company to ensure your claim is processed. It may take several weeks to receive reimbursement, so patience and persistence are key.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA):

Check Eligibility: Neuropsychological evaluations are generally considered eligible medical expenses under both FSA and HSA guidelines. Confirm with your plan administrator to ensure coverage.
Use Pre-Tax Dollars: FSAs and HSAs allow you to use pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible medical expenses, effectively reducing the overall cost of the evaluation.
Submit Receipts: After the evaluation, submit your superbill to your FSA or HSA administrator for reimbursement.
Plan Contributions: If you anticipate ongoing expenses, consider adjusting your FSA contributions during your employer’s open enrollment period or contributing more to your HSA if you have one.

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