Can your insurance report your "mental illness" to your employer?

[tgirlinva]

I have been looking into getting therapy for transgenderism and I found one. However, since I have insurance through my job, they wouldn't let me use the pay scale and would consequently make me pay full price: $120 per session. I called my insurance and they said that I had coverage for therapy, I simply have a $30 co-pay, which is great, especially since it is unlimited... My only hang up is that I'm wondering whether a) my employer can find out and b) since therapy is under "mental health", whether I will be tagged as some lunatic in the future.... can anyone advice?

[Suzy Harrison]

I have been looking into getting therapy for transgenderism and I found one. However, since I have insurance through my job, they wouldn't let me use the pay scale and would consequently make me pay full price: $120 per session. I called my insurance and they said that I had coverage for therapy, I simply have a $30 co-pay, which is great, especially since it is unlimited... My only hang up is that I'm wondering whether a) my employer can find out and b) since therapy is under "mental health", whether I will be tagged as some lunatic in the future.... can anyone advice?




Transgenderism is not a mental illness. You may be having therapy but that doesn't mean you are a looney.

My employer knows all about my therapy and they're fine with it. They understand it is a medical condition and nothing to do with mental illness.

They also know I'm the main contact for all of our customers throughout Western Australia - If they thought for a second I had some kind of mental illness, they would pull me from that position in an instant.

[Kimberly Marie Kelly]

The companies only relationship is to pay the group premium for the employees. The medical records are between you, your doctor and the insurance company. Your employer has no access to your medical records, unless they pertain to a workmens comp claim against the company.

So if the company fires you for counseling issues they are in violation of HIPPA regulations. That is my understanding. So don't be worried about it. :battingeyelashes:

[Miss Tessa]

Technically society still views TS as a mental illness.And TV also.Even though that is lame.

Its in the DSM.

If it weren't viewed as a mental illness or any illness then doctors would totally ignore it and no one would ever get hormones or blockers or SRS.

Oh yeah, and Hippa.

That is the threat I used against my gay ass psychiatrist so he wouldn't tell my mom about my gender identity stuff.

[Brenda2246]

I agree, "employer does not see your medical records".
The companies only pays the bill. "Your employer has no access to your medical records". If someone finds out your going, tell them your getting help for stress. It really is none of their business. Hugs Brenda

[tamarav]

The HIPA laws are so strict that there is no legal reason for a therapist to ever talk with an employer. A therapist could lose their license to practice for divulging any confidential information.

If someone asks, tell them you are getting help with you Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and drop it. Thats what i did and now everyone steers out of my way....

Your sis,

Tami

[Sammy777]

Basically, a shrink is like a lawyer.
Neither of them can discuss what goes between you and them with anybody else.
That is if they like to keep their licenses.

And if anybody at work does ask, Why you are going?

Tell them you are dealing with your:
Antisocial Personality Disorder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisocial_personality_disorder) & Explosive Narcissistic Rage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_rage#Narcissistic_rage)

[I like to use those two in conversations just for the looks you get, lol]
[Or go with the classics like: Megalomania or Delusions of grandeur (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalomania), your choice.]

Tell them that, and you will be surprised how nice everybody at work will suddenly become around you. lol

Also, if your covered through your job. You can not be penalized for leaving/missing work for your appointments.

[Donnadcd]

I start counseling on Tuesday. All I had to do was contact my health plan ahead of time. Turns out psychiatrist visits don't even need prior authorization. If I need other professionals, I will. Not sure what (or how much) they will cover.

BTW - I found "transgender" listed under Mental Health on my plans website. Funny thing - I know exactly what I am - why does that make me crazy?

[Susan4]

All the employer would ever see is a report from the insurance company showing the total payout for various categories of claims.

For example, they may be told that X% of the total claims costs is for claims related to mental or emotional issues. But, no names and no personal data would be shared.

It may interest you to know that MOST Fortune 500 companies have this category as their number one claims expense category. Most of the time it's due to work or family stress and a wide range of other emotional and other issues.

In short, your own unique situation will probably be lost in a large mass of very similar data anyway. But, as others have noted you have tremendous privacy protection.

My background is HR. I've also arranged for blind payment of drug claims (e.g. estrogen) so that the data didn't even show up anywhere. This can be done by you submitting your claims to your company's EAP program (if they have one) and they act as a 'blind' between you and the insurance company. However, most of the time even that isn't necessary.

BTW .. the number one prescription drug paid for by insurance plans is usually tranquillizers (remember the stress - smile).

Hugs