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Medicaid covers mental health, behavioral health, and substance use disorder services, including therapy, so if you’re a Medicaid beneficiary, take note of this benefit.

As of August 2024, 79.4 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

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Therapy Is Covered By Medicaid

Over the years, the Affordable Care Act has adjusted the Medicaid requirements to ensure that Medicaid members have access to more comprehensive mental health care.

Thanks to these policy improvements and the enactment of theMental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA)—which prevents limitations on mental health benefits for those enrolled in managed care organizations and state alternative benefit plans—Medicaid members now have access to a plethora of mental health services.

Medicaid also covers in-person and online individual and group therapy. Many providers offerfamily therapy, too. So long as you have a diagnosis and a medical prescription for a specific therapy, your health insurance provider should cover it. This means that health coverage also includes evidence-based therapies.

Some of these therapies include:

What’snotcovered iscouple’s therapy, career counseling or coaching, massage therapy, acupuncture, and other holistic treatments. Other types of therapy will depend on your plan.Transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS), for instance, may or may not be covered. If you’re on Medicaid, you should ask to work with a care coordinator who can help you manage your care and treatment plans.

Verywell Mind’sCost of Therapy Surveyfound that even with insurance, many Americans have struggled to find adequate care:30% of Americans currently in therapy say they’ve encountered a lack of appointment availability or flexibility of the mental health professional27% have had difficulty finding a mental health professional who is taking new patients24% have had difficulty finding an in-network mental health professional

Verywell Mind’sCost of Therapy Surveyfound that even with insurance, many Americans have struggled to find adequate care:

How Much Does Therapy Cost?

Medicaid Offers Additional Mental Health Support

Medicaid is the single largest payer for mental health services in the United States.While it didn’t always include therapy as a benefit and limitations do still exist, Medicaid now covers this and a myriad of othersubstance use,mental health, and behavioral health services.

If you’re enrolled in a Medicaid plan, some of your covered services may include:

Other services like tobacco use cessation, mental health skill-building, and peer support should also be covered. If you’re experiencing mental health concerns or battling a substance use disorder, it’s important to seek professional care and get the diagnosis and treatment you need.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Affording Out-of-Pocket Costs

Medicaid provides more mental and behavioral health coverage than Medicare. Both children and adults under Medicaid and CHIP have access to many different behavioral health services. But unfortunately, not every mental health service will be covered.

Here are some things to consider as you begin therapy or mental health treatment:

For patients with a severe mental health condition or illness, this can be problematic. Make sure you make the most of your plan before seeking alternative options. You may be surprised to find out just how much coverage you have.

Here’s what you can do:

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

A Word From Verywell Mind

If you’re enrolled in Medicaid, you may be eligible for federal- or state-run programs, as well as free or low-cost services. Check with your state’s Medicaid program to see what’s available to you. There are manypathways to treatment, so don’t suffer in silence.

If you’re suffering from anxiety or depression, grieving a loss, battling a substance use disorder, or undergoing a major life change,look for a therapistin your area. There are many cost-considerate providers willing to offer low-cost services to those in need.

How to Negotiate Your Therapy Rate

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.August 2024 Medicaid & Chip Enrollment Data Highlights. Medicaid. (n.d.). https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/program-information/medicaid-and-chip-enrollment-data/report-highlights/index.htmlMedicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission.Behavioral health in medicaid program–people, use and expenditures.Health Management Associates.Kaiser Family Foundation Medicaid Benefits Survey.

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.August 2024 Medicaid & Chip Enrollment Data Highlights. Medicaid. (n.d.). https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/program-information/medicaid-and-chip-enrollment-data/report-highlights/index.htmlMedicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission.Behavioral health in medicaid program–people, use and expenditures.Health Management Associates.Kaiser Family Foundation Medicaid Benefits Survey.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

August 2024 Medicaid & Chip Enrollment Data Highlights. Medicaid. (n.d.). https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/program-information/medicaid-and-chip-enrollment-data/report-highlights/index.htmlMedicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission.Behavioral health in medicaid program–people, use and expenditures.Health Management Associates.Kaiser Family Foundation Medicaid Benefits Survey.

August 2024 Medicaid & Chip Enrollment Data Highlights. Medicaid. (n.d.). https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/program-information/medicaid-and-chip-enrollment-data/report-highlights/index.html

Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission.Behavioral health in medicaid program–people, use and expenditures.

Health Management Associates.Kaiser Family Foundation Medicaid Benefits Survey.

Hannah Owens, LMSW

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