If you're battling depression or anxiety, you might be eligible to seek medical help through your current medical insurance. Thanks to 2008 legislation, you might be eligible for even more coverage than you expect. Ask your insurer for a written copy of your mental health benefits and coverage limits to find out which services you're eligible for.
Identification
Many insurers offer mental health benefits as a component of major medical insurance. According to the National Mental Health Information Center, some states require insurers to offer mental health and substance abuse coverage, but there is no federal requirement, so it's possible your plan might not offer any such benefits. If it does, your mental health benefits function just like your regular health insurance benefits: You receive treatment for an eligible service at an eligible facility and share costs according to the structure of your plan.
Treatment Professionals
When you use your mental health insurance, you might need to work with a case manager or primary care physician, depending on your plan. If necessary, this person will oversee your treatment, approving specialist visits and keeping track of your continuing needs. According to the National Mental Health Information Center, your treatment will likely take place with a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist or clinical social worker. A clinical psychologist focuses on therapy and holds a Ph.D. in psychology. Psychiatrists must complete medical school and can prescribe medication as well as diagnose mental illnesses. A clinical social worker must have an advanced degree and can help prevent and diagnose mental disorders.
Considerations
According to the Mayo Clinic, your insurance might cover only some types of office visits. It notes that more expensive practitioners, such as psychiatrists, might not be covered, but less-expensive providers, such as psychologists, nurses or clinical social workers, are part of the plan. You also will need to follow your plan's restrictions in terms of covered in-network providers. Before you visit any mental health provider, ask your health insurance company whether your visit will be covered.
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
Prior to the passage of this act in 2008, many insurers offered limited benefits for mental health, with lifetime maximum coverage amounts well below what they provided for physical coverage. In 2008, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act required insurers who provide mental health benefits to make sure these benefits carried similar coverage limits, deductibles, co-pays and allowable number of treatment visits as the physical health component of the plan. The act does carry exclusions for small employer-sponsored insurance and insurance companies whose costs would be raised more than2 percent the first year of compliance.
Mental Health Insurance Alternatives
If you can't afford a major medical insurance policy, you still might be able to receive treatment. According to the National Mental Health Information Center, each state runs mental health centers operated with public funds. These centers often charge on a sliding scale, based on what you can afford to pay. Your city or county's social services department can provide you with locations and details.
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