If you struggle with mental health issues, you are not alone. According to the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), “more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness.”[1]
The best way to recover from the symptoms of a mental health condition is by attending a mental health treatment center. You can either go to outpatient therapy, a psychiatrist, or an inpatient mental health rehab. That said, all of these options can be expensive.
Thankfully, insurance companies are required to cover mental health treatment. Most plans include mental health benefits, covering most of the cost of therapy, psychiatry, and more. If a mental health professional deems that inpatient rehab is necessary for your mental health, your insurance will most likely cover that as well.
In other words, there is no need to deprive yourself of the support you need. At New Jersey Behavioral Health Center, we offer an evidence-based and compassionate approach to outpatient mental health care.
In this article, you will learn:
- Does insurance offer mental health benefits?
- Will there be out-of-pocket costs to worry about?
- How can you verify your mental health benefits?
Does Insurance Cover Mental Health Treatment?
Insurance is required to cover mental health care under a couple of laws. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 is a law that ensures mental health treatment receives coverage at an equal level to medical and surgical benefits. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 further expanded the MHPAEA by requiring most health coverage plans to include care for mental health and addiction.
Because of these laws, most insurance plans include mental health coverage. That means you can go see a therapist, a psychiatrist, or attend a mental health treatment center.
Sometimes, pre-authorization or referral is necessary for outpatient and inpatient mental health treatment programs. This simply means your doctor or therapist will have to prove a rehab program is medically necessary for your recovery.
You can receive mental health coverage from government-funded insurance plans, private insurance, and employer-sponsored health coverage. Children’s health insurance programs also offer mental health care, in case your child is the one who needs coverage.
Will There Be Out-of-Pocket Costs When Using a Health Insurance Plan to Attend Mental Health Treatment?
While insurance does cover mental health treatment, that doesn’t mean it will all be paid for. Sometimes, you will be responsible for copays. To explain, this means you’ll pay a small fee for every therapist or psychiatrist appointment.
For example, if you go to therapy once a week, you might have to pay $25 to $50 per session, depending on your specific health coverage plan.
If you are in a mental health treatment center, there could be some costs you need to cover. You might be responsible for deductibles, copayments, and other out-of-network charges. That said, it is usually still affordable for most individuals.
If the expenses are too high for you to afford even with insurance, some mental health and behavioral health services offer payment plans. For example, you could have a sliding scale fee, which only requires you to pay what you can afford based on your income.
How to Verify Your Mental Health Benefits
If you are wondering how to verify your mental health benefits, you’ve come to the right place. While mental health services can be pricey, health insurance makes it possible for people to get the support they need.
To figure out whether your health insurance covers a specific mental health service, you can:
Contact Your Health Insurance
Navigating health insurance can be tricky, especially if you haven’t had to use it very often. Thankfully, figuring out whether your insurance covers a mental health service isn’t too difficult. You can simply call your insurance provider and give them the name of the mental health professional or the program to ask if your insurance will cover it.
Additionally, you can ask your health insurance provider for a list of in-network therapists, psychiatrists, or rehab programs. They will give you a list of mental health services in your area that your insurance covers.
Ask a Treatment Center to Check Your Health Coverage
If you are wondering if your health insurance covers a specific treatment program, you can call the facility and give them your insurance information. The mental health provider will run your insurance through the system to determine if your insurance is accepted.
Thankfully, most mental health rehabs accept a wide variety of insurance plans to ensure everyone gets the care they need. While the benefits your health plan or insurance company offers might vary, you will receive some sort of coverage.
At New Jersey Behavioral Health Center, we accept the following insurance companies:
- New Directions
- PMCS
- Multiplan
- PHCS
- Aetna
- Humana
- Optimum
- And more!
If your health plan or insurance company is not listed here, call us to run your insurance through our system. We will help you figure out if your insurance is accepted for our outpatient services.
Verify Your Insurance Coverage at a Mental Health and Behavioral Health Treatment Center
While you can pay out of pocket for mental health treatment, your health plan/insurance company might cover the cost of rehab. Because mental health is a medical necessity, most plans offer some form of behavioral health benefits.
At New Jersey Behavioral Health Center, we accept a wide variety of insurance companies. Whether you have a mental illness or co-occurring substance use disorder, we can help you recover.
Contact us today to learn more about how our program works and how to verify your insurance benefits.
References:
- The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH): Mental Illness
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