Why I Don’t Work with Insurance (and What That Means for You

Daniel Steinberg, PhD
Jul 22
2 min read

One of the most common questions I get is: “Do you take insurance?”

The short answer: no. But the real answer deserves more context, because the reasons I’ve chosen to remain out-of-network are fundamentally about protecting you.

Illustrated office scene with a laptop on a desk, labeled folders, houseplants, and a sunset outside the window. A desk sign reads “No Insurance,” emphasizing a private pay model. — When your evaluation isn’t dictated by billing codes, the focus stays where it belongs: on you.

1. Insurance Involves Gatekeeping

Insurance companies typically require a medical necessity justification before they’ll approve psychological evaluations. That often means a formal diagnosis must be assigned, whether it’s appropriate or not.

I refuse to let a third-party dictate the outcome of a clinical evaluation. My focus is on getting the diagnosis right, not shaping it to fit insurance billing codes.

2. Your Privacy Matters

When you submit an insurance claim, your diagnosis becomes part of your permanent medical record. That information can be accessed by other providers, flagged in disability underwriting, and may complicate future life insurance or security clearance processes.

By staying private pay, you keep full control of your health information. Nothing goes on file unless you choose to share it.

3. Insurance Slows Everything Down

Approvals. Denials. Re-submissions. Hours of admin. Insurance turns a streamlined process into a bureaucratic slog.

My evaluations are designed to be efficient, structured, and focused, without the paperwork bottleneck.

4. It Doesn’t Save You Much Anyway

Most plans won’t cover comprehensive ADHD evaluations, and even when they do, co-pays and deductibles mean you’re often still paying $500–$800 out of pocket.

And you may end up with a rushed, superficial evaluation that fails to provide what you actually need: clarity, insight, and documentation you can use.

5. You Can Still Submit for Reimbursement

I provide documentation (“superbills”) that you can submit to your insurer for out-of-network reimbursement. Many clients receive partial reimbursement depending on their plan.

This keeps the process in your hands, without compromising the clinical process.

In short: I don’t work with insurance because it compromises what matters most: clinical integrity, privacy, and client autonomy.

If you’re paying out-of-pocket, it should work. That’s my commitment.

Ready to move forward—without the red tape?

I offer private, structured ADHD evaluations via telehealth with no insurance hassles, no gatekeeping, and no hidden fees.

Get in Touch to take the next step on your terms.

Dr. Daniel Steinberg is a licensed clinical psychologist offering telehealth-based ADHD assessments for adults across PSYPACT-participating states. His approach emphasizes clarity, compassion, and clinically sound evaluation.