Medicare mental health coverage overview
Medicare covers a broad range of mental health services across its different parts. Understanding which part covers which service helps you navigate your benefits and minimize out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare Part B — outpatient mental health
Part B covers outpatient mental health services including individual and group therapy, psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and telehealth mental health services. After meeting your Part B deductible ($240 in 2026), Medicare pays 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered services. You pay the remaining 20% — or less if you have a Medigap supplement plan.
Providers who bill Medicare for mental health services include: psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, and nurse practitioners with psychiatric specialization.
Mental health services are covered at the same 80/20 rate as other Part B services — a significant improvement from the historical 50% coverage rate that existed before mental health parity reforms.
Medicare Part A — inpatient mental health
Part A covers inpatient psychiatric hospitalization in both general hospitals and freestanding psychiatric facilities. Coverage rules for freestanding psychiatric facilities differ slightly — there is a lifetime limit of 190 days for inpatient care in freestanding psychiatric facilities (though general hospital psychiatric units have no such limit).
Medicare Part D — psychiatric medications
Part D prescription drug plans cover most psychiatric medications — antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anti-anxiety medications. Coverage specifics depend on your plan's formulary. Low-income subsidy programs (Extra Help) can significantly reduce medication costs for qualifying beneficiaries.
Telehealth mental health under Medicare
Medicare now permanently covers telehealth mental health services following expansions made during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. You can see a mental health provider via video from your home — you are no longer required to travel to a healthcare facility for telehealth services.
Finding Medicare-accepting mental health providers
Search BehavioralHealthGuide.org and filter by Medicare as your insurance. You can also use Medicare's own provider finder at medicare.gov/care-compare. Make sure the provider "accepts assignment" — meaning they agree to Medicare's approved rates — to avoid surprise bills.