How to Get Insurance Companies to Raise Your Rates with Jeremy Hinote, LPC, NCC, CPCS | WP 175

What if your lowest-paying insurance panel is costing you thousands a year… and you didn't even realize you could ask for a raise?

In this episode, I sit down with Jeremy Hinote, owner of Savannah River Counseling in Augusta, Georgia, to break down exactly how he negotiated a major reimbursement increase with one of the most notoriously difficult payers: Tricare.

And yes, it worked.

Jeremy shares the step-by-step process he used to:

• Identify his lowest reimbursement rate
• Research what others in his area were being paid
• Prepare a compelling renegotiation letter
• Push back (professionally) multiple times
• Secure a $20 per session increase

We also talk through the emotional side of the process. The fear of losing a panel. The tension between serving clients and running a sustainable business. And the mindset shift required to advocate for your value.

If you're insurance-based, considering joining panels, or wondering whether you're being underpaid, this conversation will give you practical tools and the confidence to start asking better questions.

Jeremy also shares specific resources, negotiation tips, and what insurance companies actually care about when reviewing rate increase requests.

If you've ever thought, "I guess this is just what they pay," this episode may change your perspective.

06:15 How we met (and why he joined Wise Practice right away)
09:42 The real problem: insurance rates that don't make sense
12:42 Credentialing lesson: what he'd do differently next time
15:28 Tricare's rules + who to contact to renegotiate
17:55 The negotiation play-by-play (and why he kept pushing)
20:16 The win: about $20 more per session
22:56 How much of his caseload was Tricare (high stakes)
23:45 My takeaway: your business has to survive to keep serving
26:35 When to ask for increases (and put it on your calendar)
27:39 The resource that helped: The Insurance Maze
33:24 Don't overload your practice with low-paying panels
35:38 Is Wise Practice worth it? Jeremy's honest answer

Jeremy's Resources

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