INSURANCE

Health insurance is something everyone needs. It helps pay for medical bills, doctors visits, etc. However, it is not something everybody has. Over 5.3 million adults living with a mental illness or mental health condition remain uninsured, and the United States continues to see a decrease in Americans who are uninsured.

There are a number of ways to receive health insurance. Some of the most common ways include:

• An Employer
• Obamacare
• Medicare

Depending on the insurance company and the policy that is in place, what is covered, its cost and how much needs to be spent on services by the policyholder before the insurance company helps pay varies. A premium is paid the insurance company every month to keep the insurance policy and remain insured. The money that is spent by the policyholder on services is called the deductible. The cost of deductibles vary depending on the policy, how the insurance was received and what is being covered.  In 2016, the average deductible for an individual plan was $4,358 and the average deductible for a family plan was $7,983.

When it comes to mental health coverages, having services and treatments covered in an affordable ay can be difficult. In a number of cities, some therapists charge their patients anywhere from $75 to $150 for a 45 minute session. Those prices can go up depending on location. If an individual’s insurance plan/policy requires them to reach their deductible before there insurance company will help, they will have to pay for therapy and possibly other services out of pocket.

For those who are living with a more serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, and need to receive inpatient treatment can take a toll on them financially. For individuals who are uninsured, they will have to pay out of pocket. In this scenario, the cost for the treatment can be up to $8,509 for eleven days and $5,707 for seven days in an inpatient treatment center. Based on what is recommended, an inpatient stay that adequately treats a person’s serious mental health crisis may last longer than what is not be covered by insurance.

Written by: Emma Rodner-Tims