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 a mental health condition is to receive professional mental health treatment. You can attend outpatient therapy, see a psychiatrist, or attend a residential mental health treatment program. That said, every type of mental health recovery service will cost money.
If you are worried about the cost of mental health treatment, there is a solution. Thanks to the Mental Health Parity Act and the Affordable Care Act, health insurance companies are required to cover mental health treatment services. That means at least a portion of the cost will be covered by your health insurance plan.
At Renewed Light Mental Health, we accept a wide range of health insurance plans to ensure everyone has access to the care they need. We offer a variety of outpatient programs that include individual therapy, group counseling, medication management, and more. In other words, you’ll receive all of the tools and support you need to recover when you attend our program.
In this article, you will learn:
- What are the signs that you need mental health services?
- Does insurance cover mental health treatment?
- Can you purchase a separate mental health insurance plan?
- How can you ensure you’ll have mental health coverage for your treatment program?
Signs You Need Behavioral Health and Mental Health Care
If you are struggling emotionally, you might need behavioral health care. Knowing the signs that you need treatment can motivate you to seek the help you need.
The signs that you need treatment for a mental illness include:
- Persistent feelings of sadness, low mood, or feelings of hopelessness
- Experiencing intense worry or fear
- Dealing with intense mood swings throughout the day
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Unexplained changes in appetite or weight
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up
- Engaging in any form of self-harm
- Experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- Dealing with hallucinations or delusions
- Having unusual or exaggerated beliefs
- Trouble coping with daily activities or responsibilities
- Using drugs or alcohol to cope with your emotions
- Experiencing strained relationships with your friends or family
- Significant shifts in your personality
- Feeling detached from yourself or your surroundings
If you experience any one of these symptoms, you probably need behavioral health treatment. Programs like Renewed Light can help you learn how to cope with your symptoms, provide you with a diagnosis, and transform your life using a combination of therapy and medication.
Does Insurance Cover Mental Health Treatment?
If you are wondering whether your insurance offers mental health benefits, the short answer is yes. All health insurance plans are required to cover behavioral health services thanks to these laws:
Mental Health Parity Act
The Mental Health Parity law is a federal law that was enacted in 2008. It ensures that healthcare plans cover some form of behavioral health services, like therapy, psychiatry, or residential behavioral health programs.
Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act is a healthcare reform law that also ensures that health insurance plans cover mental health services. This law was enacted in 2010 and expanded health insurance coverage, made insurance more affordable, and ensured services like mental health benefits were offered. It also ensured that insurance plans cover substance use disorder treatment.
Are There Separate Mental Health Insurance Plans?
If you don’t have health insurance but need care for a mental illness, you might be wondering if you can buy separate insurance that only covers mental health services. While this might be a convenient solution, separate mental health insurance plans don’t exist. The only way to receive mental health benefits is to purchase a full health insurance plan that offers the coverage you need.
Thankfully, there are affordable options for health insurance due to the Affordable Care Act. If you meet income requirements, you might qualify for free or reduced-cost plans through the government. If you are looking for mental health services for your child, you should look into children’s health insurance programs.
How to Ensure You Have Mental Health Coverage
If you are going to attend therapy, see a psychiatrist, or go to a residential mental health treatment program, you might be wondering how to verify your mental health benefits. There are a few ways to ensure you receive insurance coverage with your health plan.
First, you could contact your insurance company to find a list of in-network mental health professionals. They’ll provide you with names of therapists, psychiatrists, and treatment centers that accept your insurance. You can also use employer-sponsored health coverage to pay for therapy and other services.
You can also schedule a mental health visit with a therapist, psychiatrist, or treatment program. Before the appointment begins, the receptionist will take your insurance information and run it through the system to ensure your health plan covers the treatment. They will inform you of any out-of-pocket costs you’ll be responsible for.
Because mental health care is a medical necessity, your insurance will cover treatment.
While you might have some out-of-pocket costs to cover, they usually aren’t too expensive. For example, sometimes you’ll be required to pay the cost of prescription drugs when they are prescribed to you. Insurance companies might also require you to cover a co-pay for each appointment you attend.
Verify Your Coverage for Mental Health Treatment Today
If you are seeking treatment like therapy or psychiatric services, you’ve come to the right place. At Renewed Light, we offer an outpatient program for behavioral health recovery. The therapy costs we charge are fair and reasonable, and we also accept a wide range of insurance plans.
Whether you need crisis intervention, a simple office visit, or evidence-based therapy sessions, we can offer the care you need. While coverage varies based on your insurance plan, we pride ourselves on offering fairly priced mental health treatment to our community.
Contact us today to verify your insurance benefits and begin treatment.
References:
- The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH): Mental Illness