Accepted Insurance Plans

 All patients seeking behavioral health care services at Journey to Wellness Counseling are assured that they will be served regardless of ability to pay. No one is refused service because of lack of financial means to pay. This program is designed to provide free or discounted care to those who have no means, or limited means, to pay for their medical services (uninsured or underinsured).

Journey to Wellness Counseling will offer a Sliding Fee Discount Program to all who are unable to pay for their services. Journey to Wellness Counseling will base program eligibility on a person’s  ability to pay and will not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s race, color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Federal Poverty Guidelines are usedin creating and annually updating the sliding fee schedule (SFS) to determine eligibility.

Eligibility

Discounts will be based on income and family size only.

a. Family is defined as: a group of 2 people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of one family. Journey to Wellness will also accept non-related household members when calculating family size

b. Income includes: gross wages; salaries; tips; income from business and self-employment; unemployment compensation; Social Security; workers’ compensation; Supplemental Security Income; veterans’ payments; survivor benefits; pension or retirement income; interest; dividends; royalties; income from rental properties, estates and trusts; alimony; child support; assistance from outside the household; and other miscellaneous sources.

Income Verification

Applicants may provide one of the following: prior year W-2, two most recent pay stubs, letter from employer, or Form 4506-T (if W-2 not filed). Self-employed individuals will be required to submit details of the most recent 3 months of income and expenses for the business. Adequate information must be
made available to determine eligibility for the program. Self-declaration of income may be used. Patients who are unable to provide written verification may provide a signed statement of income.

Discounts

Those with incomes at or below 100% of poverty will receive a full 100% discount for healthcare services. Those with incomes above 100% poverty, but at or below 200% of poverty, will be charged a nominal fee according to the attached sliding fee schedule. The sliding fee schedule will be updated
during the first quarter of every calendar year with the latest FPL guidelines.

Nominal Fee

Patients with incomes above 100% of poverty, but at or below 200% poverty, will be charged a nominal fee according to the attached sliding fee schedule and based on their family size and income. However, patients will not be denied services due to an inability to pay. The nominal fee is not a threshold for receiving care and thus, is not a minimum fee or co-payment.

Waiving of charges

In certain situations, patients may not be able to pay the nominal or discount fee. Waiving of charges must be approved by Journey to Wellness’s designated official.  Any waiving of charges is documented in the patient’s file along with an explanation.

Applicant notification

The Sliding Fee Discount Program determination will be provided to the applicant(s) in writing and will include the percentage of Sliding Fee Discount Program write off or, if applicable, the reason for denial. If the application is approved for a less than 100% discount or denied, Journey to Wellness will work with the patient and/or responsible party to establish payment arrangements. Sliding Fee Discount Program applications cover outstanding patient balances for 6 months prior to application date and any balances incurred within 12 months after the approved date, unless their financial situation changes significantly. The applicant has the option to reapply after the 12 months have expired or anytime there has been a significant change in family income. When the applicant reapplies, the look back period will be the lesser of 6 months or the expiration of their last Sliding Fee Discount Program application.

Refusal to pay

If a patient verbally expresses an unwillingness to pay or vacates the premises without paying for services, the patient will be contacted in writing regarding their payment obligations. If the patient is not on the sliding fee schedule, a copy of the Sliding Fee Discount Program application will be sent with the notice. If the patient does not make an effort to pay or fails to respond within 60 days, this constitutes refusal to pay. At this point in time, Journey to Wellness can explore options not limited to, but including offering the patient a payment plan, waiving of charges, or referring the patient to collections.

*Sliding fee scale application on the link below 

https://hipaa.jotform.com/222544564466057