Medicare and Psychiatric Health

Most people know that Medicare is offered to individuals with disabilities, but many do not realize that this coverage can extend to mental health problems as well as physical ones. Even if you are receiving Medicare coverage due to a physical problem or because you are over the age of 65, many people need psychiatric counseling at some stage of their lives.

Services Covered

The good news is that Medicare does offer coverage for psychiatric treatment. The down side is that this coverage is not as extensive as the kind offered for treatment of physical ailments. If you require extended psychiatric care, you should be aware of what is covered and what is not.

Hospitalization

Medicare will cover necessary stays in psychiatric hospitals for up to 90 days per benefit period. If you need to remain in the hospital for longer than 90 days, you may draw on a lifetime reserve of 60 extra days. Once the lifetime reserve days are used, they cannot be renewed.

Outpatient Care

If you need regular appointments with a mental healthcare worker, these sessions can be covered by your insurance. Medicare offers coverage for appointments with psychiatrists, counselors, social workers, and other healthcare workers. Some individual policies do not put a limit on the number of sessions covered, while others do.

Medications

Medicare covers drugs that are administered in a hospital or through an outpatient program. Drugs prescribed by a doctor to be taken at home, however, are a trickier issue. Some drugs may be covered by individual plans, while others may not be.

Learn More about Texas Health Insurance Options

Some people needed supplemental insurance to cover needed services that Medicare does not. To learn about Texas health insurance options, contact Option 1 Health Insurance.