Insurance That Covers Mental Health Treatment

Seeking Affordable Health Insurance for Mental Health

With health insurance costs on the rise, many Americans are struggling to get the care they need at a price they can afford. When coupled with the rise of mental health concerns, many people are finding themselves without options for quality treatment. Luckily, the recent movement to shed light on mental health treatment has made it easier for individuals to find coverage whether they need traditional healthcare or mental health assistance.

In 2017, approximately 28 million Americans went without any type of health insurance during the year. Going without health insurance might sound like a valid way to save money, but it’s a risky situation. If an accident happens or you’re in need of vital mental health treatment, you could find yourself unable to seek care or unable to pay for high costs of service. To protect yourself, here’s how to find health insurance that offers mental health coverage.

Mental Health and Insurance Coverage

There are a lot of misunderstandings about how mental health coverage works with traditional health insurance. You might have more options than you think under your current plan, and it’s important to familiarize yourself with your treatment options. Most treatment falls under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008.

Under the MHPAEA, all group health plans and health insurers need to provide the same level of benefits for mental health or substance abuse treatments that they do for medical care. This also includes plans found in the Healthcare Marketplace or under Medicaid.

What exactly is covered under this act? First of all, healthcare plans need to cover behavioral health treatment which includes psychotherapy and counseling. This also includes inpatient services or substance abuse treatment. The amount of coverage often depends on your state laws, but these are generally all covered in some capacity.

Are pre-existing conditions covered? In short, yes. Healthcare plans, especially Marketplace Plans, cannot deny you coverage because of any type of pre-existing condition. This also means there can’t be any yearly limits on essential health benefits which cover those treatments listed before. As you can see, there are a lot of protections in place legally to ensure you’re able to get the coverage you need with an insurance plan that works for you.

Finding the Right Plan

Next, let’s discuss how to find a plan that’s right for you. If cost is your primary concern, your best option is likely to find a plan through your employer, if offered. Your employer generally subsidizes the cost which will make this the most affordable choice. However, if you’re not employed or if you’re interested in an outside plan, there are still options.

Your local Healthcare Marketplace will show low-cost plans you might be eligible for based on your situation. Otherwise, you’re free to purchase your own plan through a provider. This can be a complicated process, so it’s best to use a licensed insurance agent. An agent can guide your search with mental health in mind.

The most important thing to do is to start the search. Having some form of coverage is always the best choice, especially because you can’t predict the future. The cost of ongoing mental health treatment can be crippling, while a health insurance plan will greatly help reduce these costs so they’re either free or affordable.

Protect Your Mental Health

Your mental health is one of the most important things you have. Don’t risk your health by failing to get the right health insurance. As you can see from the guide above, there are protections in place to ensure you’re able to find the right care at the right price.

Start your search for the best health insurance today. You’d be surprised how much of a relief it is to seek care without worrying about cost. The time is now to make your journey to recovery.

Seeking Treatment for Mental Health

Many treatment centers for residential and outpatient treatment accept health insurance to help reduce the out of pocket costs for treatment. Call to speak to a Treatment Specialist to use your insurance and start receiving help at 866-644-7911. If you do not have health insurance, please connect to a insurance agent or state website to find out more about getting health insurance.