You are here: Home Government ... Medicare: ... Original Fee-For-Service ...
Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
Answers to your practical questions such as how to travel safely despite your health condition, how to avoid getting infected by a pet, and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

Medicare: Original Fee-For-Service

Original Fee-For-Service Medicare: Depression

Next » « Previous

7/8

A serious medical condition is often accompanied by depression. Original Medicare covers the treatment of depression both by professionals and with medication. 

MEDICAL SERVICES

Medicare pays for treatment of depression and for other mental health services in individual and group therapy in a doctor's, psychologist's or social worker's office, a clinic or outpatient hospital programs.

Medicare also covers:

  • Family counseling to help with your treatment.
  • Activity therapies such as art, dance or music therapy.
  • Occupational therapy.
  • Prescription drugs that you cannot administer yourself, such as injections that a doctor must give you.
  • Treatment costs for a resident of a long-term-care facility who is suffering from depression. 

Medigap can pick up the costs of mental health care not covered by Medicare.

Nonmedical doctors such as psychologists and certified social workers must take "assignment" - they must accept Medicare's approved amount as payment in full.  Medical doctors, such as psychiatrists, do not have to take assignment. Depending on the law of the state in which you live, such doctors can charge you up to 15% above the Medicare approved rate.  

MEDICATIONS

Virtually all brand name and generic drugs in the benzodiazepine category used to treat anxiety (among other uses) are available on the Part D drug formulary. The category includes medications such as Ativan, Valium, and Xanax. 

TO LEARN MORE

  • About Medicare coverage of depression: see the booklet: Medicare And Your Mental Health Benefits, available at www.medicare.gov offsite link.
  • About depression and practical tips for dealing with depression, click here.

Please share how this information is useful to you. 0 Comments

 

Post a Comment Have something to add to this topic? Contact Us.

Characters remaining:

  • Allowed markup: <a> <i> <b> <em> <u> <s> <strong> <code> <pre> <p>
    All other tags will be stripped.