Mental health isn’t the taboo subject it once was. It’s dominated headlines in recent years, as the pandemic weighs heavily on our lives and affects us all.
In fact, 2023 findings show more than 50 million Americans experienced a mental illness, like generalized anxiety or seasonal affective disorder. Thankfully, Medicare does cover many services to help diagnose and treat mental health disorders, including substance abuse problems.
Medicare Part A Provides Inpatient Coverage
Anyone with Medicare Part A is covered for up to 190 days of inpatient psychiatric hospital stays during your lifetime. Medicare Part A would also cover you for any therapy, lab tests and some medications you may be given during your stay.
Medicare Part B Covers Outpatient Treatment
Those with Medicare Part B are covered for general ongoing mental health support, like yearly screenings for depression or other outpatient treatment programs.
Other Medicare Part B coverage includes:
Lab tests
Some medications
Counseling appointments, individual psychotherapy or family counseling
Psychiatry and clinical social worker appointments
Partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient care, like rehab programs for substance abuse
Other Mental Health Medicare Coverage
While Original Medicare does cover basic mental health care needs, you can enroll in other plans for additional coverage:
Medicare Part C coverage may include prescription drug coverage and other counseling services.
Medicare Part D covers further medications, including antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. Finally, some Medigap plans can cover additional fees — co-pays and deductibles — incurred during inpatient or outpatient care
If you have problems that affect your mental health, such as dark and intrusive thoughts, trouble concentrating or feelings of being overly anxious, talk to your doctor. For immediate help, call or text 988 or visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988lifeline.org .
To learn more about Medicare’s mental health coverage, call 1-833-463-3262, TTY 711 to speak with a licensed agent at Senior Healthcare Direct.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The above is meant to be strictly educational and not intended to provide medical advice or solicit the sales of an insurance product or service of any kind.
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