Medicare Care Benefits for Mental Health
Medicare provides health insurance for many elderly and disabled people. Most people qualify for Medicare at the age of 65, but disabled people who have qualified for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for two years can receive Medicare at any age. Medicare pays for mental health care as well as other health care services.
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Medicare Part A
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Medicare Part A pays for inpatient hospital care, including inpatient mental health care on a psychiatric unit of a general hospital or in a private psychiatric hospital. People who paid Medicare taxes when they worked receive Part A at no cost. Others can receive Part A but must pay a monthly premium. Recipients must also pay a portion of inpatient hospitalization costs. In 2011, they must pay $1,132 for days one to 60 of each benefit period. They must pay $283 per day for days 61 to 90 of each benefit period and $566 per day after that. Medicare limits inpatient mental health treatment to 190 days over a lifetime.
Medicare Part B
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Medicare Part B pays for outpatient mental health care, including visits to doctors or psychiatrists that prescribe psychotropic medication, blood tests used to monitor psychotropic medications like lithium, and visits to counselors, including psychologists, licensed social workers and substance abuse counselors. Medicare recipients must pay a monthly premium for Part B but those with low incomes can get help paying the premiums. For 2011, patients must pay 20 percent of the cost of visits to doctors to diagnose mental health conditions and 45 percent of the cost of other outpatient treatment, such as counseling.
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Medicare Part C
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Medicare recipients can choose Medicare Part C instead of the traditional Parts A and B if they prefer. With Medicare Part C, recipients can choose from a number of plans, called Medicare Advantage Plans, that include managed care plans and preferred provider organization plans. These plans generally cover mental health care but benefits vary from plan to plan.
Medicare Part D
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Medicare Part D pays for prescription medications, including medications used to treat depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and other mental illnesses. Medicare recipients can choose from a number of different prescription drug plans, but not all plans cover all medications. Recipients must pay co-pays for most prescription drugs, as well as a monthly premium for Medicare Part D. Co-pays and premiums vary from plan to plan.
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