Of course the insurance company's 11th hour cancellation is unconscionable--but insurance companies do not have consciences. Even after they've paid for services, they have the right (or claim to have the right) to re-review and demand that payment be returned. This in fact happened a couple of years ago with an HMO declaring an audit of psychologists' records after having already paid the claims, to determine "medical necessity," and if the psychologists' records were judged by the HMO as not meeting their standard of demonstrating "medical necessity," they demanded their money back. Fortunately, the American Psychological Association and other professional organizations got involved and they backed off somewhat--but the threat is there. Here again, to push back against the almighty insurance companies, the individual psychologists needed the clout and money of the professional organizations. Unbelievable, I know, but unfortunately, true.
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