Does Medicare Cover Therapy?

Medicare only covers mental health services you receive through a licensed psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, or other health professional who accepts Medicare assignments.

Medicare Part B (medical insurance) helps pay for the following outpatient mental health services, one depression screening per year from a primary care doctor or at a primary care clinic that can provide follow-up treatment and referrals, individual and group psychotherapy with doctors (or with certain other licensed professionals, as the state where you get the services allows), family counseling, if the purpose is to help with your treatment, testing to determine if you’re getting the services and help you need, psychiatric evaluation, medication management, diagnostic tests, partial hospitalization, a one-time “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit. This visit includes a review of your possible risk factors for depression, and a yearly “wellness” visit. Talk to your doctor or other health care provider about changes in your mental health since your last visit. Part B also covers outpatient mental health services to treat substance use.

You pay nothing for your annual depression screening if your doctor or health care provider accepts the assignment. After you meet the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for visits to your doctor or other health care provider to diagnose or treat your condition. If you get your services in a hospital outpatient clinic or hospital outpatient department, you may have to pay an additional copayment or coinsurance amount to the hospital.

Learn more about Medicare mental health coverage.