Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I request an appointment?
- When are you available for counseling sessions?
- What are the costs for services?
- How can I pay?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- What health insurance plans do you accept?
- Where can I find your Notice of Privacy Practices?
How do I request an appointment?
You can request a brief introductory meeting to address any questions you may have about our services (15 minutes, free of charge). Click the button below to get started:
You can request a brief introductory meeting to address any questions you may have about our services (15 minutes, free of charge). Click the button below to get started:
When are you available for counseling sessions?
Dr. Cruz-Ortega has appointments available Mondays through Thursdays from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm & Fridays from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. In person visits are available Mondays through Thursdays. Telehealth visits are available Mondays through Fridays.
Ms. Vanessa Vargas is available from Monday through Friday with mornings, afternoons, and evening hours available.
You can check our current availability by emailing us or completing the brief introductory meeting request form.
Please, note that our phones are usually silent during the day to avoid interruptions during sessions, so the best way to connect with us is via email. Phone calls are usually returned during the work week within 48 hours, while calls received on weekends or holidays are returned on the next business day.
This website provides answers to most questions people ask when looking for a counselor, including information about our areas of specialty, professional background, insurance, costs, and availability, among others. This may help you assess whether we can be of assistance.
If you need immediate assistance:
What are the costs for services?
Initial Visit: $295.00
Ongoing Individual Sessions: $180 - $255
Ongoing Couples & Family Sessions: $200
Usually, 50-55 minute sessions are scheduled once-per-week, especially at the beginning of our work, but they can occur less frequently depending on your needs or preference (e.g., bi-weekly, monthly).
Payment for scheduled services, including deductibles and copays, are due in full at the time of service (payment is processed before the start of your appointment). Clients can submit payments through the client portal (debit & credit cards, including HSA accounts), PayPal, or Venmo (@drluisco).
What is your cancellation policy?
Since our time is reserved for our clients, missed appointments (no shows) or cancellations within 48 hours of the scheduled appointment will carry a fee of $120.00. A request to reschedule an appointment requires cancelling an existing appointment to establish a new one. Thus, 48 hours of advance notice is required to cancel or reschedule appointments. This usually gives us enough time to offer the appointment time to another client.
We understand that urgent situations arise. When this occurs, please let us know so we can discuss an exception. Health insurance does not cover missed appointments or late cancellations. A credit card on file is required to cover these charges.
If the first visit is cancelled late or missed, it may not be rescheduled. If the counselor decides to reschedule a first visit that was missed or cancelled late (within 48 hours of the appointment), the client must pay the late cancellation / missed appointment fee before confirming the new appointment).
Clients with repeated cancellations or missed appointments may not be able to reschedule appointments (a referral will be provided).
Dr. Cruz-Ortega has appointments available Mondays through Thursdays from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm & Fridays from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. In person visits are available Mondays through Thursdays. Telehealth visits are available Mondays through Fridays.
Ms. Vanessa Vargas is available from Monday through Friday with mornings, afternoons, and evening hours available.
You can check our current availability by emailing us or completing the brief introductory meeting request form.
Please, note that our phones are usually silent during the day to avoid interruptions during sessions, so the best way to connect with us is via email. Phone calls are usually returned during the work week within 48 hours, while calls received on weekends or holidays are returned on the next business day.
This website provides answers to most questions people ask when looking for a counselor, including information about our areas of specialty, professional background, insurance, costs, and availability, among others. This may help you assess whether we can be of assistance.
If you need immediate assistance:
- Call 911 or go to your nearest hospital's emergency room
- Crisis Line (Central Ohio, 24/7, confidential, free):
- 614-276-2273
- Web Chat: netcareaccess.org
- The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
- 988 (Call or Text)
- Web Chat: https://988lifeline.org/chat/
- Crisis Text Line (24/7, confidential, free)
Text “4HOPE” to 741-741
What are the costs for services?
Initial Visit: $295.00
Ongoing Individual Sessions: $180 - $255
Ongoing Couples & Family Sessions: $200
Usually, 50-55 minute sessions are scheduled once-per-week, especially at the beginning of our work, but they can occur less frequently depending on your needs or preference (e.g., bi-weekly, monthly).
Payment for scheduled services, including deductibles and copays, are due in full at the time of service (payment is processed before the start of your appointment). Clients can submit payments through the client portal (debit & credit cards, including HSA accounts), PayPal, or Venmo (@drluisco).
What is your cancellation policy?
Since our time is reserved for our clients, missed appointments (no shows) or cancellations within 48 hours of the scheduled appointment will carry a fee of $120.00. A request to reschedule an appointment requires cancelling an existing appointment to establish a new one. Thus, 48 hours of advance notice is required to cancel or reschedule appointments. This usually gives us enough time to offer the appointment time to another client.
We understand that urgent situations arise. When this occurs, please let us know so we can discuss an exception. Health insurance does not cover missed appointments or late cancellations. A credit card on file is required to cover these charges.
If the first visit is cancelled late or missed, it may not be rescheduled. If the counselor decides to reschedule a first visit that was missed or cancelled late (within 48 hours of the appointment), the client must pay the late cancellation / missed appointment fee before confirming the new appointment).
Clients with repeated cancellations or missed appointments may not be able to reschedule appointments (a referral will be provided).
What health insurance plans do you accept (in-network provider)?
- Aetna
- Caresource (Marketplace plans accepted | Medicaid plan not accepted)
- Cigna / Evernorth
- Devoted Health
- First Health Network
- Humana
- Lyra Health
- Medical Mutual of Ohio
- Meritain Health (Aetna)
- Ohio Healthy
- Ohio PPO Connect
- Ohio State University Health Plan - Faculty & Staff
- Ohio State University Student Health Insurance
If "Luis G. Cruz-Ortega, PhD & Associates" is an in-network provider for your insurance company, we will submit a claim on your behalf. You are still responsible to cover your deductible and/or copay. If you do not know whether you have a deductible to meet or how much is your copay for psychotherapy services, please call the customer service number in your health insurance card for guidance.
If your therapist is not an in-network provider for your health plan you might be able to access your health insurance plan's "out of network" benefits. In this case, you would pay directly for the services received. Then, you will receive a document with the information your insurance company needs to process and send you a reimbursement based on your policy's benefits.
Since the plans and coverage offered by health insurance companies vary greatly, you are encouraged to call your health insurance's customer service number (find it in the back of your health insurance card) to verify that "Luis G. Cruz-Ortega, PhD" is an "in-network" provider or to inquire about your "out-of-network" benefits and how to access them. You may also verify this information by logging in to your health insurance online client portal.
Luis G. Cruz-Ortega, PhD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1235117011. Sometimes it is helpful to provide this number when calling customer service to confirm our "in-network" status or when searching insurance companies online provider directories.
Please, note that health insurance companies only pay for "medically necessary" procedures. Thus, they require your therapist to provide a mental health diagnosis when submitting a claim for services and may request information about your progress in order to approve additional services (e.g., additional sessions). Some individuals prefer to not disclose any information about the services they receive to third-parties and pay themselves for their psychological services. Please, let your therapist know if you have any questions about this. Your therapist maintains a commitment to your confidentiality and abides by the codes of ethics of the American Psychological Association (Dr. Luis G. Cruz-Ortega) and the American Counseling Association (Ms. Vanessa Vargas).
How can I access your Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA)?
You can obtain a copy of this document by clicking here or request a copy via email.
If your therapist is not an in-network provider for your health plan you might be able to access your health insurance plan's "out of network" benefits. In this case, you would pay directly for the services received. Then, you will receive a document with the information your insurance company needs to process and send you a reimbursement based on your policy's benefits.
Since the plans and coverage offered by health insurance companies vary greatly, you are encouraged to call your health insurance's customer service number (find it in the back of your health insurance card) to verify that "Luis G. Cruz-Ortega, PhD" is an "in-network" provider or to inquire about your "out-of-network" benefits and how to access them. You may also verify this information by logging in to your health insurance online client portal.
Luis G. Cruz-Ortega, PhD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1235117011. Sometimes it is helpful to provide this number when calling customer service to confirm our "in-network" status or when searching insurance companies online provider directories.
Please, note that health insurance companies only pay for "medically necessary" procedures. Thus, they require your therapist to provide a mental health diagnosis when submitting a claim for services and may request information about your progress in order to approve additional services (e.g., additional sessions). Some individuals prefer to not disclose any information about the services they receive to third-parties and pay themselves for their psychological services. Please, let your therapist know if you have any questions about this. Your therapist maintains a commitment to your confidentiality and abides by the codes of ethics of the American Psychological Association (Dr. Luis G. Cruz-Ortega) and the American Counseling Association (Ms. Vanessa Vargas).
How can I access your Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA)?
You can obtain a copy of this document by clicking here or request a copy via email.
"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart.
Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."
– Carl Jung