Mental Health and Therapy Coverage

What's Covered

Mental health is one part of your overall health, and your plan covers more than free preventive screenings. Depending on your plan, you may also have access to added mental health benefits, therapy and other ongoing mental health care. People under 30 may get extra mental health coverage.

Free mental health screenings are covered as part of your preventive care. See Free Preventive Care for Adults for the full list. These services are usually provided during a routine check-up, not during a visit for specific symptoms or therapy.

Other Mental Health Benefits

Some health insurers provide additional mental health benefits free of charge. Depending on the plan you choose, you may get access to free meditation apps, a 24/7 crisis-support hotline and peer support for substance abuse.

Non-Preventive Services

Some plans include additional services that are covered by your health plan but are subject to a deductible or copay. What you pay depends on which coverage level you choose.

They include:

• Counseling or therapy for a diagnosed condition (like anxiety or depression)
• Psychiatric evaluations
• Medication management
• Substance use disorder treatment (like rehab or therapy)
• Mental health hospitalization or partial hospitalization

California state law requires that all health plans cover diagnosis and treatment for specific serious mental health conditions like major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and emotional disturbances in children.

Mental health treatment must be equal to other forms of health care. That means that things like out-of-pocket costs must be comparable to other services. Health plans must also offer members a return behavioral health appointment within 10 business days after referral or initial visit.

Minimum Coverage Plan

A minimum coverage plan (also known as a catastrophic plan) includes up to three outpatient or urgent-care mental health visits per year that are completely free (no copays or deductibles).This plan is only available to people under 30. It usually has a higher cost when you use medical services but lower monthly premium payments.