About Mental Health Insurance Coverage

Purchasing health insurance is often seen as a necessity in today's society. One area that many people often overlook however, is the discipline of mental health. Mental health insurance is a type of insurance coverage that is not widely understood, but it can provide you with benefits that could help if you suffer from a mental disorder.

Function

• The purpose of mental health insurance is to provide insurance coverage on the costs associated with mental disorders that you could develop. For example, if you are diagnosed with a mental disorder and you have to go to a treatment facility or obtain therapy, the cost could be substantial. With mental health insurance, you can turn in a claim to your insurance company and be reimbursed for these costs.

Disorders

• Mental health insurance can cover a wide array of mental disorders. When you are purchasing a policy, it is important to look at the different disorders it covers. For example, you could buy a policy that covers anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and relationship problems. You may also want to look to see what types of treatments could be included with your policy. Certain treatment types may be excluded from your policy.

Facilities

• When buying a mental health insurance policy, it is important to look at the facilities and medical professionals that participate in the covered plan. For example, some policies include a rule that requires you to get a referral before you can see a specific professional. You may also have to go to facilities that are in a specific network of providers instead of seeing a provider of your choice.

Out-of-Pocket Costs

• Just like other types of insurance policies, mental health insurance also involves some out-of-pocket costs. When you receive treatment you may have to pay a co-pay or some other type of co-insurance. You may also have to pay a deductible depending on what type of policy you have. The size of the deductible will have a direct correlation with the amount of your insurance premiums.

Considerations

• When looking at mental health insurance policies, it is important to consider some other factors. For example, you may want to find out if the policy has a specific number of visits that are allowed to a therapist. Your policy might also have a specific dollar limit that you have to abide by per year or for the life of the policy.