How do I actually get a psychiatrist?
July 27, 2011 7:14 AM Subscribe
How do I find a psychiatrist? I have insurance.
I have BlueCrossBlueShield IL, but live in DC. I'm on a PPO. All of the psychiatrists listed on BCBS's website are either child psychiatrists or no longer accept insurance. Many are far in the suburbs; I live in the city and don't have a car, so couldn't go during the day.
What now? This is an urgent situation that is getting worse by the day.
Recommendations welcome; I am struggling with some severe, unmanageable anxiety.
I have BlueCrossBlueShield IL, but live in DC. I'm on a PPO. All of the psychiatrists listed on BCBS's website are either child psychiatrists or no longer accept insurance. Many are far in the suburbs; I live in the city and don't have a car, so couldn't go during the day.
What now? This is an urgent situation that is getting worse by the day.
Recommendations welcome; I am struggling with some severe, unmanageable anxiety.
Yelp is another possible source. It's not nearly as comprehensive as the Psychology Today directory in my experience, and a lot of providers lack reviews, but for those who do have reviews it can be helpful for getting a sense of how they work and whether they would be helpful to you. I found my current therapist through looking at the Yelp reviews of providers in my area.
posted by Kosh at 7:27 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by Kosh at 7:27 AM on July 27, 2011
Your primary care doctor will usually be able to recommend someone, so that's a route you might want to consider.
posted by killdevil at 7:31 AM on July 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by killdevil at 7:31 AM on July 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
As for a referral from a local physician in the BCBS network. You may well need a referral before you can see a specialist anyway.
Barring that, I found 167 psychiatrists the BCBS provider listings within 5 miles of DC.
posted by valkyryn at 7:42 AM on July 27, 2011
Barring that, I found 167 psychiatrists the BCBS provider listings within 5 miles of DC.
posted by valkyryn at 7:42 AM on July 27, 2011
Call your health care insurance provider again. Explain that the listings provided are not working out and that you need additional referrals and/or assistance finding a psychiatrist with openings. it's Managed Care, right? Tell them you help you manage it. grrrr. When my family member needed some specialty care, I got a similar runaround. My doctor helped me by telling BCBS that their referrals were inadequate, so I went out of network at the regular rate. It can be done, and they should be helping you.
posted by theora55 at 7:51 AM on July 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 7:51 AM on July 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Through your doctor, through an on-line support group or e-mail list for people dealing with similar issues, by asking friends.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:01 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:01 AM on July 27, 2011
valkyryn is right, you will most likely need a referral from your doctor before you can go. Call your doctor ASAP!
posted by Specklet at 9:20 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by Specklet at 9:20 AM on July 27, 2011
I called my insurance company. Mine had specialists who would talk to you if your needs were urgent, and they matched me to a provider. I basically opted out of the researching shrinks part: I figured they were professionals with the inside scoop on who was good at what. It worked for me. Maybe your mental health benefits can help this way?
posted by Ys at 9:24 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by Ys at 9:24 AM on July 27, 2011
On the back of your insurance card should be a separate phone number for Mental Health services. Call that number (if there isn't, call the regular patient services number and ask for assistance with a Mental Health referral) and once you get a live person on the line, tell them what you need. Tell them that their website wasn't helpful and can they do the search for you (my state's BCBS provider website was kinda crap too). They can also help you figure out if you need a referral from your PCP or not.
posted by MultiFaceted at 10:19 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by MultiFaceted at 10:19 AM on July 27, 2011
I asked my internist, who I trusted implicitly. He made a few phone calls and got me in with a psychiatrist that I absolutely loved, and who considers me one of her epic success stories. (I went in as a barely-human broken being, and came out as a person capable of wonderful and fulfilling interpersonal relationships.)
At least in the rural areas in which I dwell, the best ones have waiting lists. They might not be on your insurance (but might apply to be on your insurance given you as a regular client -- my psychologist made that swap, and was happier for it herself), but your sanity is worth skipping that movie or latte a month.
posted by SpecialK at 9:26 PM on July 27, 2011
At least in the rural areas in which I dwell, the best ones have waiting lists. They might not be on your insurance (but might apply to be on your insurance given you as a regular client -- my psychologist made that swap, and was happier for it herself), but your sanity is worth skipping that movie or latte a month.
posted by SpecialK at 9:26 PM on July 27, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/
It starts with a simple ZIP code search, and from there you can sort by insurance accepted and issues they specialize in. IIRC, many of the profiles specify if they're near a Metro stop.
Good luck to you.
posted by GreyWingnut at 7:23 AM on July 27, 2011 [1 favorite]