One of the things I am passionate about is affordable access to mental health care, so that people can receive the services they need. So I was very pleased to see this paragraph in my husband’s 2015 Benefits Open Enrollment Information:
Effective January 1, 2015, office visits for psychotherapy consultations will be subject to the same co-pay as specialist office visits. Currently, this type of treatment is subject to deductible and co-insurance. Recognizing the importance of mental health and its effects on mental and physical well-being, we have placed deductible expenses with a co-pay to remove financial barriers and increase compliance with mental health care.
As I have openly shared here, I attend regular therapy sessions and it used to stress me out how expensive it is every year, until we met our deductible, but Bob and I agreed it was worth it. I hope this change will allow more people to experience the benefits of psychotherapy and am personally grateful that it will make my treatment less costly for our family.
Have you participated in psychotherapy?
Has the cost ever been a barrier for you?
Would a change like this make you more likely to do it?
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I am so fortunate that my health plan has covered psychotherapy for quite some time. I took advantage of those benefits a few years ago and found it immensely helpful! I would not hesitate to utilize psychotherapy in the future.
I think more health plans should broaden their coverage to make psychotherapy an option for their clients.