Does Medicare pay for therapy or counseling?

Medicare.gov says Part B covers many outpatient mental health services [1]. These include individual and group therapy. They include family counseling when it helps your treatment. They also include psychiatric evaluation, medication management, diagnostic tests, and one depression screening a year [1]. Your state may limit who can give therapy [1].

Many kinds of providers can give these services. They include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurse practitioners, family therapists and counselors [1].

What you pay [1]: • Nothing for the yearly depression screening if your provider accepts assignment. • After the Part B deductible, 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for visits to diagnose or treat your condition. • In a hospital outpatient clinic, you may also owe the hospital a copayment or coinsurance.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, Medicare.gov says to call or text 988. For an immediate medical crisis, call 911 [1].

Open Medicare.gov, Mental health care (outpatient), at https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/mental-health-care-outpatient and read the part quoted above. Your own plan or policy papers hold details these sources do not give: "Don't know yet" for your case.