What insurance to get paneled with?

[StayOnTop]

I'm currently paneled with Blue Cross, which has been cool, but I'm looking to panel with another insurance to get my numbers up even more. I'm looking to panel with one more. I've thought about medicare, but I generally don't see geriatrics. Anyone know, generally, which one to get paneled with between Cigna, United, and Aetna? I've heard bad things about United, and Cigna, but unsure about Aetna. Anyone have advice in this? Thanks for any help!

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[PikminOC]

Aetna and uhc

 

[Sushirolls]

Regional variance for all three.
Pay rate of each.
Volume or percent market each has.
Ease of dealing with.

Aetna is little easier to work with and call when you need to in my experience and pays more than the others in my area. But the others have greater patient percentage.
So much variations per state.

 

[KaiBuzz]

Have they all provided a copy of their fee schedules? CIGNA/Evernorth pays well below Medicare for commercial patients so that’s not ideal.

 

[J ROD]

Aetna. Molina is pretty easy to work with and fair reimbursement according to my friend that opened his own practice.

 

[Ironspy]

Cigna pays 60% of Aetna and BCBS where I am. Uhc pays ~70%

 

[PsyDr]

Who is the biggest employer in your city? What insurance do they use?

 

[StayOnTop]

Who is the biggest employer in your city? What insurance do they use?

It's BCBS and it's not even close, and I'm already paneled with them. Just trying to think of another.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

It's BCBS and it's not even close, and I'm already paneled with them. Just trying to think of another.

Then I’d just go with the highest reimbursing one. Ask around to other psychiatrists in the area who take insurance (if there are any) to see what they’re getting for rates or see what insurances the private practices in the area tend to be in network with, since those are likely to be the higher reimbursing ones.

It’s totally different location to location. Cigna and Aetna in my area suck for example for straight E+M codes (get more comparable with therapy add ons). UBH is actually pretty solid for reimbursement in my area but UBH is notorious for audits in general.

 

[Atreides]

United offered laughable rates, like 50% of anyone else, and refused to negotiate.

 

[splik]

You never said where you are located so we can't answer this question. Very geographic. I can tell you the smaller and newer companies tend to be more reasonable. There are differences even within the same state. If you dont wish to disclose this information I suggest you look on psychologytoday to see which insurances solo psychiatrists are accepting most frequently in your area. That is usually a good clue. Otherwise ask around in your area or ask your biller if you have one as they will know what you can reasonably get. Another option is just try to panel with several and see what rates you can get. Do not accept any nonsense of signing contracts before reviewing and negotiating rates. Medicare is not just geriatrics, anyone on SSDI, some young people with parents of medicare age, pts on dialysis etc also qualify. If you are open to Medicare rates, you can also look into Tricare which pays medicare rates (they publish their rates online). Again this is all locality based. Some areas people would be very happy to get Medicare/Tricare rates, in others they are much lower than commerical insurance pays.

 

[whopper]

Avoid Coventry. I have yet to see one psychiatrist get reimbursed from Coventry.

 

[Sushirolls]

Avoid tricare...
They require extra paperwork to get authorized for visits like they are trying to be some sort of CMHC.

 

[Monocles]

Avoid Cigma. They are by far the worst and I think there was even a study that came out a while back which showed them with the highest reimbursement refusal or something. r/medicine has nightmare stories about Cigma

 

[littlefred]

Avoid Cigma. They are by far the worst and I think there was even a study that came out a while back which showed them with the highest reimbursement refusal or something. r/medicine has nightmare stories about Cigma

I like how you call them Cigma. Is it a play on words with smegma?

 

[surfguy84]

How long did it take you all to get on a panel? I'm hoping to start private practice right out of residency, but my medical biller is telling me it can take 6-12 months. Is this really the case?

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

How long did it take you all to get on a panel? I'm hoping to start private practice right out of residency, but my medical biller is telling me it can take 6-12 months. Is this really the case?

I think it took about 6 months for me for Aetna and Cigna in my area. Don't remember how long UBH took. I think BCBS and a regional insurance company were quite a bit faster but I am considered a "critical access speciality" for most insurances (child and adolescent) so could check that off on my applications (still took 6 months for some of them though lol). I am actually paneled with Tricare although I only see a couple Tricare patients right now but that was in limbo forever.

Like other people have noted above, getting on a local regional insurance companies panels tends to be quicker and with less hoops to jump through, so might jumpstart things while you're waiting on a bigger insurer.

 

[surfguy84]

I think it took about 6 months for me for Aetna and Cigna in my area. Don't remember how long UBH took. I think BCBS and a regional insurance company were quite a bit faster but I am considered a "critical access speciality" for most insurances (child and adolescent) so could check that off on my applications (still took 6 months for some of them though lol). I am actually paneled with Tricare although I only see a couple Tricare patients right now but that was in limbo forever.

Like other people have noted above, getting on a local regional insurance companies panels tends to be quicker and with less hoops to jump through, so might jumpstart things while you're waiting on a bigger insurer.

Good to know. I can live with 6 months..but a year just seems so damn long to wait after graduation.

 

[Monocles]

I like how you call them Cigma. Is it a play on words with smegma?

It was actually unintentional lol! They probably deserve it.

Now that I look back I probably have official notes documenting "Cigma" my entire career...

 

[GynGuy1983]

Has anyone faced any issues being a new grad and not yet being board certified? Does that make a difference in compensation?

 

[JustPushTheButton]

Has anyone faced any issues being a new grad and not yet being board certified? Does that make a difference in compensation?

Interested to see everyone experience on this. Do insurances want you to be board certified in order to panel? Are the reimbursement extremely low for new grads?

 

[surfguy84]

I'm currently paneled with Blue Cross, which has been cool, but I'm looking to panel with another insurance to get my numbers up even more. I'm looking to panel with one more. I've thought about medicare, but I generally don't see geriatrics. Anyone know, generally, which one to get paneled with between Cigna, United, and Aetna? I've heard bad things about United, and Cigna, but unsure about Aetna. Anyone have advice in this? Thanks for any help!

Out of curiosity, how "full" did just Blue Cross get you?

 

[clozareal]

Cigna/Evernorth responded the fastest to me and have rates that are higher than aetna and anthem in my area. I didn't sign with any insurances so can't say how they'll reimburse.