Unknowingly using out of network provider

I really hope someone can help me. I am in very bad place. Before I start, I would first like to point out…this is 100% my fault. Before you think, “Why didn’t you check beforehand?”….i don’t have an answer for that other than I am already stressed beyond my limit right now and I just thought my wife knew better than to go see someone without checking their insurance policies.

My wife does not work and she is on my insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program). She has serious mental health issues. She went to our primary care doctor back in January, who referred her to a psychiatric nurse practitioner. My wife has seen her several times and she loves her. She was prescribed antipsychotic medication but it’s still going to be a long road to dial in the right dosage and get her the help she desperately needs.

Last week my wife gets an invoice in the mail. It’s for over $500. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but for us it is. She starts freaking out, saying that she can’t stop seeing her because in her fragile state, she can’t retell her stories of trauma all over again and believes she won’t be able to find someone else as good as her. I contacted the nurse practitioner and, sure enough, she does not accept my insurance. Open enrollment for HSA/FSA isn’t until mid November and I don’t have any qualifying life events that would allow me to get more coverage.

Before I go through the process of getting a small loan or a new credit card to slowly pay this off, I wanted to reach out here and see if maybe there any programs or financial assistance options available for people in my situation.

submitted by /u/Terrible-Guitar-8136
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