Does Medicare Cover Therapy and Mental Health Care?

Yes — Medicare covers therapy and mental health care. Part B covers care outside the hospital. That includes therapy — alone, in a group, or with family — plus psychiatric evaluation and help managing your medicines. After you meet the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for each visit. Part A covers mental health care when you're admitted to a hospital. And a yearly depression screening is free if your provider accepts assignment.

What Part B Covers for Outpatient Therapy

Most mental health care happens outside a hospital. You might go to a provider's office, a hospital outpatient department, or a community mental health center. Part B covers a wide range of these services, including:

• Therapy (psychotherapy) — one-on-one or in a group
• Family counseling, when its main purpose is to help with your treatment
• Psychiatric evaluation and diagnostic tests
• Help managing your medicines
• One depression screening each year, in a primary care setting
• Partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs
• Care and medicines for substance use (drug or alcohol) disorders
• Safety planning if you're at risk of suicide or overdose, plus a follow-up call after a crisis visit to the emergency room

Which Providers Can You See?

Medicare covers visits with more provider types than many people expect. You can see psychiatrists and other doctors. You can also see clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors. The provider must be enrolled in Medicare, so ask before your first visit.

What You Pay

• Depression screening: $0 once a year, if your provider accepts assignment.
• Therapy and other visits: after you meet the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
• Hospital outpatient settings: you may owe an extra copayment or coinsurance to the hospital.

Current deductible amounts are on our Understanding Your Costs page. A Medigap policy can help pay your share. If money is tight, Getting Help Paying shows programs that may cover these costs.

Therapy by Video or Phone (Telehealth)

Medicare covers therapy by telehealth. Through December 31, 2027, you can get covered telehealth services from anywhere in the U.S., including your home. Phone-only visits count in some cases. For most telehealth services, you pay the same as you would in person.

Inpatient Mental Health Care

If you're admitted to a hospital for mental health care, Part A covers your stay. Part B covers the doctor services you get while you're there. What you pay depends on how long you stay. The same benefit-period rules apply as for any hospital stay — our Part A guide explains them.

One special limit: care in a psychiatric hospital (one that treats only mental health conditions) is capped at 190 days in your lifetime under Part A. Care in a general hospital doesn't count against that cap.

What About Medications?

Part B covers certain drugs you wouldn't normally give yourself, like some injections. Medicines you take at home usually go through your Part D drug plan instead. Each plan has its own drug list and costs.

If You Have Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage plans must cover everything Parts A and B cover. That includes mental health care. But the plan sets its own copays, provider network, and approval rules. Check your plan's materials for which therapists are in-network and what a visit costs.

Common Questions