Does Insurance Cover Rehab for Depression?

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Using Insurance for Proven Mental Health Programs at Catalina

Depression is a serious condition that affects millions of people in the United States annually. It should be taken quite seriously, and you should always get help if you feel yourself slipping into a depressive episode. You may already know that you or your loved one would benefit from expert help in the form of depression treatment.

In too many instances, people are held back from needed treatment for depression by the cost of services. This is why our team at Catalina has created a resource to answer a critical question: Does insurance cover rehab for depression?

Catalina Behavioral Health can help you pinpoint exactly what your insurance will cover when it comes to depression rehab.

Keep reading to get answers on insurance coverage for depression rehab programs, and remember, with a quick call to our admissions team, you can verify your benefits and get a great idea of your out-of-pocket costs, if any.

Let us help smooth the path for you or someone you care about to get crucial mental health treatment today!

4 Considerations for Seeking Depression Treatment Using Insurance

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, over 21 million people in the US struggle each year with a major depressive episode. Receiving mental health treatment is more important now than ever before. If you know that you fall into this category, you should know what an insurance provider is likely to cover for treatment.

The good news is that your insurance provider likely covers some types of treatment for depression. Here is what you need to know about mental health treatment and insurance coverage benefits that help offset the cost.

1) The Affordable Care Act and Getting Essential Health Benefits Covered

We have made great strides in getting depression treatment covered by insurance with the Affordable Care Act. Enacted in 2010, this legislation mandated that insurance companies cover mental health as part of their essential health benefit definition.

Every plan offered by small employers or individual plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace has some coverage for mental health including depression.

These plans must also cover substance abuse. It is relatively common to find that substance use and mood issues overlap. One in four adults with a serious mental health problem also struggle with their substance use. If that is something you struggle with alongside a mood disorder like depression, you may want to seek help for both conditions simultaneously.

2) No Charges for Pre-Existing Conditions

Depression can often be a lifelong struggle for people rather than a one-time occurrence. This means that in the year following your diagnosis of depression, you will have a pre-existing condition when you apply for new health insurance benefits.

In the past, this might have been enough for your insurance company to push back on whether they would extend coverage to you. If they did offer you coverage, then it might have excluded access to mental health treatment in an attempt to save their money for unforeseen medical expenses from you and other plan participants.

In other words, they did not want to cover something that they knew would present an expensive issue.

Fortunately, this is no longer an issue. Under the Affordable Care Act, an insurance company can no longer deny you for having a pre-existing condition. They cannot restrict your access to care unless you opt into a plan that does not cover any mental health treatment.

3) No Dollar Limits for Mental Health Treatment

Insurance companies are a business just like anything else. They want to minimize their spending on the services they offer, and that includes your mental health coverage. Fortunately, there is no limit to what you can spend each year on a formal diagnosis of mental health conditions.

Insurance companies are no longer permitted to set yearly or lifetime limits on anything that falls under the purview of an essential health benefit. Because mental health services are specifically named in this legislation, you can rest assured that your treatment program will be covered by insurance.

One important thing to note here is that insurance providers cannot restrict mental health services any more than they do physical health treatment or surgical benefits. Restrictions have been lifted on most insurance plans and these mental health parity protections can be a serious benefit.

4) Spending and Costs Depend on Specific Insurance Plan Type

Exactly what will be covered by your insurance plans when it comes to a rehab program for depression? There are no cookie-cutter responses for what all health insurance companies are going to cover for rehab. Your insurance provider and even the unique plan you sign up for all have an impact on out-of-pocket costs.

Benefits depend on several factors, including what your agreement is with the insurance company. Even beyond your health insurance plan, the facility you select and its location can indicate how much money you will spend on major depressive disorder treatment.

At Catalina, our Joint Commission accreditation and reputation for providing excellent care often pave the way for approval, even when an insurance carrier has been skeptical in the past.

Getting Help from the Right Treatment Centers in Arizona

Will insurance cover depression treatment right here in Arizona? That mostly depends on your plan and where you choose to seek treatment. While mental illness is covered by insurance by law, that does not mean it is covered in its entirety.

Here is what you need to know about selecting the right facility and how much insurance will cover.

Does Insurance Cover Rehab for Depression in Arizona?

Oftentimes, health insurance providers will require you to see in-network providers because they have negotiated rates with these facilities. This keeps their costs as low as possible while permitting you to get the help you need. Unfortunately, your insurance plan may not have in-network providers all over the country.

A health insurance plan might require you to stay with an in-state provider. This is especially true if you are on Arizona’s AHCCCS Medicaid plan.

If you are located in Arizona, you have lots of options. Catalina Behavioral Health accepts AHCCCS insurance in-network, along with many other health insurance plans, and can assist you in getting the care you need for depression and any other needed services such as substance abuse treatment.

Mental Health Primary Insurance is Accepted at Catalina

One of the best aspects of the care you will receive at Catalina Behavioral Health is that we do not only treat substance use disorder. Instead, we also accept mental health primary clients. This means that you can gain access to our inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment programs with an emphasis on your mental health.

If you work with our admissions team and determine that depression treatment is right for you, we can assist you in ensuring that your insurance coverage will kick in effectively.

We can verify your insurance benefits in a quick and confidential phone call. It takes only a few minutes and you will have a much clearer idea of what your health insurance coverage looks like. While it may be covered under the Affordable Care Act, it is important to note that it may not be covered in its entirety.

Getting Help with Payments for What Insurance Doesn’t Cover

In those instances where insurance does not cover your depression treatment in full, you have other options. We want you to get the help you need, regardless of what insurance covers. Mental health concerns should always be taken seriously. Get the behavioral health services you need without the constant worry about cost.

Catalina can help you come up with payment plans, self-pay discounts, and sliding scale fees. This all serves to make mental health care more accessible to those who either do not have insurance or whose insurance may not cover the full cost of depression rehab.

Pursuing the Right Level of Treatment for Mental Health Disorders

Does insurance cover rehab for depression? The answer depends on your provider and the services that are needed.

Behavioral health benefits are extended to anyone who has insurance under the Affordable Care Act. However, that does not necessarily mean that your health insurance plans cover services at the same rate. You may want to consider what level of care is appropriate with your mental health provider.

Inpatient Treatment for Depression as the Gold Standard

An inpatient rehab program for mental health should be your first choice if you struggle with major depressive disorder. It gives you access to the most intensive treatment plan and allows you to have access to a robust team of skilled clinicians around the clock.

Especially if you think you might be a danger to yourself, the care of a team might be essential.

You do not have to worry about necessities like eating, cooking, cleaning, and all the other tasks that might feel overwhelming right now. Instead, you can focus solely on healing, learning new coping skills, and stabilizing on a new medication. The question of safety is solved for you, giving you access to the help you need at this exact moment.

Most major insurance companies will cover inpatient rehab for depression, offering at least partial coverage. Verify your benefits to make sure, but you may be pleasantly surprised by lower out-of-pocket expenses.

Outpatient Programs for Less Expensive Treatment Options

If you do not feel that inpatient rehab is right for you, there are other options. Depression rehab can also mean outpatient programs like partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient services. Under the umbrella of these services, you can spend your days in our facility. At night, you return to your family and home responsibilities.

This can be a great way to bridge the gap between the more intensive treatment in inpatient and the return to your daily living activities.

Both programs permit you to spend at least nine hours each week in therapy. You might also have access to addiction treatment, group therapy, and other services that bolster your confidence and mental health. Insurance providers are more likely to cover these less expensive programs.

Medication-Assisted Treatment and Medication Management

An important component of depression rehab is finding a solution that will stabilize you. Many people can benefit from medication-assisted therapy to balance the neurotransmitters and chemicals in their brains that result in major depression. There are no easy answers as to which prescription will work for you.

Being under the care of a skilled psychiatrist is necessary to find the right prescription drugs that have minimal side effects.

Keep in mind that taking medication is not something you should do lightly. Ensure that your goals align with the rest of your treatment plan. If you notice any side effects like suicidal thoughts, let your doctor know immediately. This is why it can be helpful if your insurance covers inpatient rehab where you can be monitored and protected at all times.

Get Help for Depression Covered at Catalina Today

Are you ready to seek treatment for depression with your insurance coverage? At Catalina Behavioral Health we offer every service you might need to find more ease in your day-to-day life. Don’t let depression keep you or your loved one from living life to the fullest. We can help you make the most of your benefits and get effective support!

You may not want to contact your insurance provider directly. It can be challenging to get a straight answer from them about what they will cover concerning your depression treatment plan. Instead, contact our admissions team today to learn more about your insurance coverage and comprehensive programs for mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Make the confidential call to Catalina now, and get proven options for depression treatment from our exceptional staff of clinicians today!

References

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP21-07-01-003, NSDUH Series H-56). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/
2. (DCD), D. C. D. (2023, April 20). Does the Affordable Care Act cover individuals with mental health problems?
3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Mental health and substance use co-occurring disorders.
4. Healthcare.gov. (n.d.-a). Mental health and substance abuse health coverage options.