Tuesday, February 3, 2009

What Mental Health Coverage Is Right For You?

By Charles Johnson

In the past mental health issues were seldom talked about, let alone covered in health insurance plans, but thanks you legislation passed over the years mental health is now treated on par with other forms of disease. Mental health insurance coverage has become more and more commonplace in society and virtually all insurance agencies are starting to offer their own plans.

Mental health issues can take many forms and can include anything from more common symptoms such as depression to social phobias that are a little less common. The expense for treatment of these issues can really add up and the result is an avoidance of treatment for fear of financial ruin. In these cases, mental health insurance can make a huge difference.

Many health insurance plans will offer mental health coverage for an additional fee, or include it in their pre-existing coverage to begin with. Check with your current coverage to verify whether or not mental health coverage already exists in your policy. If you do not have health coverage through an employer, buying mental health coverage is not terribly expensive considering the cost of treatment, though prices do vary depending on the buyer's individual circumstances.

Before you buy any mental health insurance coverage, set up a consultation with your doctor to review coverage plans. While some plans may look good on paper, you may be forgetting other treatments that your doctor is more familiar with and may not be covered in your plan. Your doctor has also had experience with coverage of other patients and may be able to recommend specific companies, plans or policies that could save you money in the long term.

The last bit of advice I can give is to do your homework before committing to a coverage. Make sure you cover all of your needs, and be aware of any hidden fees or unnecessary expenses in each plan, and be sure that your policy is exactly what you need. Don't just sign up for a plan because it's the cheapest, but look for what works best for your needs.

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