What Government Programs Pay for Mental Health Care?

Just as the body is no more important than the mind, your physical health is no more important than your mental health. Knowing this, governments provide a number of ways by which people of limited means can get access to necessary mental health care--just as they do for physical health care. These government programs help the underprivileged get care from psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists, therapists and counselors.

Medicare

• Medicare is a federal program with a structure similar to conventional private health insurance programs, except that it generally only covers people who are 65 and older. Part A of Medicare covers "hospital" expenses, such as what you would incur by visiting the emergency room or staying as an inpatient, while Part B covers "medical" expenses, such as what you would incur from home health care services, nursing and durable medical equipment. Part B also covers costs of treatment for issues related to mental health. As of the writing of this article (2010), people with Medicare must pay an annual deductible of $155 as well as a co-pay of 45 percent of mental health care treatment costs. This copay, though, will decrease consistently in years to come.

Medicaid

• Medicaid is a program in which state governments work with the federal government to provide health benefits for people with low incomes and limited resources. Medicaid does cover mental health treatment, but, because the program is not strictly controlled at the federal level, the extent to which it does so differs from state to state.

Social Security

• The Social Security Administration has two programs that help people pay for mental health treatment. The first is Supplemental Security Income, while the second is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD, SSDI or DIB). To be eligible for both of these, your mental condition needs to be such that you are unable to make a considerable amount of money by working. Additionally, SSD recipients must show they have paid into the Social Security program regularly in the past. However, unlike Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security benefits do not simply pay for treatment expenses the way a conventional health insurance company would. Rather, Social Security benefits are flat-rate benefits that you receive every month.