Bipolar disorder is a tough issue that affects the whole family. When a serious bout of mania or depression takes over, you need to seek treatment immediately. Be aware of your insurance coverage and seek treatment with a program that partners with your insurance company.
Understanding Your Insurance Coverage for Mental Health Treatment
While most insurance policies have equal coverage for mental health hospitalizations, not every policy is designed the same. The Mental Health Parity Act was passed, requiring equal coverage for mental health care and physical health care. But until the Mental Health Parity Act is fully enacted, your physical health insurance may differ from your mental health coverage.
The only way to know where you stand is to work directly with your insurance company. Yet when you are in the middle of a crisis, you are not able to function at your best. Many people enter treatment only to find out much later that their insurance will not cover mental health hospitalization. But, you can take steps to ensure this does not happen to you.
Every Insurance Policy is Different
Unfortunately, every insurance company offers a large number of different policies. On top of that, some insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions, or there may be limits to your coverage. Some important questions you need to ask about your health insurance mental health coverage include the following:
- How much money will I need to pay upfront?
- How long can I receive treatment?
- Will I need a doctor’s referral to begin treatment?
- What percent of my care will the insurance company pay for?
- Am I pre-approved to begin treatment?
- Where can I find bipolar treatment or addiction treatment that is in-network?
- Will this rehab or mental health treatment be covered like a hospital stay or a number of doctor’s visits?