Please call your insurance provider:

You can do it!

Getting Reimbursed for Counselling

The mental health counselling services I am offering you are covered (reimbursed) by most major Canadian insurance providers.

How does “getting reimbursed” for mental health counselling work?

You may have private insurance coverage through your employer (your work), or the employer of your spouse or family member, or your university / college, or your own individual insurance plan that you bought yourself.

Professional Designation of:

Clinical Social Work / Clinical Therapist / Counsellor (MSW, RSW):

I am registered with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW).

Therefore, I offer counselling services under the following professional designation types and terms used by insurance companies:

1. Clinical Social Worker

or a

2. Social Worker

or a

3. Clinical Therapist

or a

4. Counsellor

NOT a

Psychologist, or Psychiatrist.

Please note: You can ask about all four of the above professional designations / types of Social Worker, one at a time. Some plans will use slightly different names to describe a Clinical Social Worker, so please ask about all of the above terms if needed.

Ask, and you shall succeed!

Six easy questions for you to ask your Insurance Provider:

To design the mental health counselling process for success for you, please call your insurance provider and ask these six questions:

Do I have coverage to seek mental health counselling with a Clinical Social Worker, or a Social Worker, or a Clinical Therapist or a Counsellor? (Not a Psychologist, or Psychiatrist).
After you have assured yourself to your satisfaction that you have coverage to seek mental health counselling with a Registered Clinical Social Worker, or a Social Worker, or a Clinical Therapist, or a Counsellor (Not a Psychologist, or Psychiatrist), then please feel free to email me or call me.
Please note: You can ask about all four of the above professional designations / types of Social Worker, one at a time. Some plans will use slightly different names to describe a Clinical Social Worker, so please ask about all of the above terms if needed.
How much coverage do I have per calendar year? What is my cap for the year?
What if anything is my co-pay? I get reimbursed 80% or 100% or etc.?
What app or website do I use to get reimbursed?
How long is the wait to get reimbursed?
If I have more than one insurance provider, which is my “first payer” and how do I send in for reimbursement from both insurance providers?

For University and College Students:

Please contact your student union office OR the university’s client service centre to ensure your health insurance is activated, and offers you coverage to seek mental health counselling with a Clinical Social Worker, or a Social Worker, or a Clinical Therapist or a Counsellor? (Not a Psychologist, or Psychiatrist).

And / or ask your parents if you are still covered under their plan etc.

Direct Bill and Reimbursement:

I can “direct bill” Manulife, Canada Life, Medavie Blue Cross, Chamber of Commerce, Green Shield and a list of other insurance providers.

Some insurance companies (e.g. Sun Life) ask that you please pay your health service provider directly, and then send your paid receipt to your insurance company over their app or portal, to receive your reimbursement, usually within 48 hours.

I issue your official paid in full receipt the same day as your mental health counselling appointment, then you send that receipt to your insurance provider for reimbursement.

Question:

Why don’t some insurance companies offer the direct bill option?

Short Answer:

It is a practice used by most insurance companies that is meant to act as a subtle form of discouragement to you as the policyholder.

Insurance companies would prefer their policyholders (you) not make claims, so that the insurance companies can make more money.

Therefore, if a policyholder (you) wants to access their benefits, the insurance companies make the policyholder (you) “do some work” by uploading your paid receipt to the insurance company’s portal.

It’s a bit of work to get reimbursed for your mental health counselling appointment, but you can do it!

Save Time

For your own benefit, please check your insurance coverage first, then call or email me:

After you have assured yourself to your satisfaction that you have coverage to seek mental health counselling with a Clinical Social Worker, Social Worker, or Clinical Therapist (Not a Psychologist or Psychiatrist), then please feel free to email me or call me.

If you want me to call you for a no cost complimentary hello and intro call, please email me and mention the phone # to call you at, and some dates / times when you could answer the phone. I may need 24 hours to reply during the week, and 48 hours to reply on the weekend. Thank you.

Contact information:

Mackenzie Ells, MSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker / Clinical Therapist

Sunrise Out East Counselling

(782) 222-0496

sunriseouteast@gmail.com

No talking to receptionists. And no wait!

Personalized Service.

When you call or email me…

You reach me directly, right away.

And you get an appointment within a week if you wish.

No talking to receptionists at large clinics.

No long waitlists for your first appointment.

No long wait lists for your follow up appointments.

You get a prompt and personalized service that you can count on.