Best Therapists That Accept Medicare (2024)

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on finding the best therapists that accept Medicare. We will explore the key topics surrounding therapists who accept Medicare, including specialties, experience, and patient reviews. 

• About 10% of seniors who need home health care or hospitalization suffer from depression, and 51.5 million Americans struggle with mental health issues
• Medicare Part A and B cover inpatient and outpatient services
• Medicare mental health services cover conditions like depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and dementia

We encourage you to enter your zip code below to compare rates from the best insurance providers and discover therapists accepting Medicare near you. Take the first step towards prioritizing your mental well-being today and find the support you deserve.

Therapists That Accept Medicare

In 2019, 51.5 million adults were affected by some form of mental health issue. This includes depression, anxiety, mood disorders, dementia, and eating disorders.

About 10% of seniors who require either home health care or hospitalization experience depression. Because there are millions of Americans covered by Medicare and mental health care is important to seniors, they can easily find a therapist.

Mental health issues are covered by Medicare Part B for outpatient services. Therapists work with Medicare for the following mental health services:

• Individual and group therapy
• Psychiatric evaluation
• Medication management
• Partial hospitalization
• Family counseling (if it’s deemed medically necessary as part of your treatment)
• Administration of medicine that can’t be taken by yourself (IV drugs, for example)
• Diagnostic tests
• Testing to see if treatment is helping

Additionally, Medicare allows for one free depression screening per year.

Affordable therapists that accept Medicare will sign off on the following conditions for Medicare:

• Alcohol misuse
• Obesity
• Wanting to quit smoking
• Hospice care
• General mental health care
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Cardiac rehab
• Nutritional therapy

While not as common, Medicare Part A also offers some coverage for mental health services. If you need to be hospitalized for any reason, Part A will cover it.

However, Medicare will only cover 190 days of hospitalization care for your entire lifetime.

What types of therapists are covered by Medicare?

The best insurance companies offer mental health coverage, Medicare included. As long as the therapy is considered medically necessary, Medicare will more than likely pay for at least part of it.

The medical professionals that work with Medicare include:

• Psychiatrists
• Clinical social workers
• Nurse practitioners
• Clinical psychologists
• Clinical nurse specialists
• Physician assistants

Medicare won’t cover certain types of therapists, including marriage counselors or pastoral therapy.

How much do you pay with Medicare mental health coverage?

Even though all seniors over 65 are eligible for Medicare, you’re still responsible for part of the payments. You can find rates for therapists that accept Medicare by contacting their office.

For Medicare Part A, you’re responsible for a deductible ($1,408 in 2020 for each benefit period), a 20% coinsurance after you meet your deductible and copayments for hospitalization.

Copayments depend on how many days you’ve used:

• For 1-60 days, you pay $0
• Day 61-90, you’ll pay $352
• After day 91, you’re responsible for $704
• After day 190, you take on full responsibility

For Part B, you’ll have to pay for the cost of certain treatments and tests. You’re also responsible for 20% of the cost after you meet your deductible, which is currently $198.

If you have a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, it can help cover out-of-pocket costs. Costs will also vary if you have a Medicare Advantage plan.

Therapists That Accept Medicare: The Bottom Line

Finding a therapist that accepts Medicaid or Medicare doesn’t have to be a challenge. When you’re struggling with your mental health, getting help fast is vitally important.

To help cover the cost of therapists that accept Medicare, you should consider a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan. Enter your ZIP code into our free tool today to start looking at quotes for Medicare plans in your area.