Is it standard for health insurance policies to not cover any mental health services or medications?

Nikki Sypult: There is something called Mental Health Parity...not sure if it is just in CT or all thru the US. If you go to a psychaitrist (MD) that visit must be covered like any other doctor (but be sure you chose a network dr etc).However, to get counseling for depression, you can see a PHd who might not be an MD. That may not be covered according to your plan. I have worked with a number of health plans and it is typical to see limits on the amount of mental health services (visits to counselors) that are paid (anywhere from 10-30 visits per year is what I've seen).I have not seen the RX specifically targeted. Zoloft itself maybe targeted as a tier 3 drug or made very expensive by the plan. But there are many drugs available and many are become generic. I'd call the health insurance company and investigate further. Also, I'd see if there is an EAP (employee assistance program) that will help. Call the HR dept or the Benefits Dept and ask these questions....Sho! w more

Jesusita Dykhoff: It's not standard, but it is standard not to cover pre-existing conditions.

Jarrod Darnall: Yes you need to be careful of what your insurance covers. They are very tricky

Lorelei Lilburn: No you can't. They frown on that.

Vern Serratos: Check again. He might need a referral to a shrink from his primary, and then it is covered. Or, his service might have an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) component that he could use for counseling. It's a separate thing from the health plan. Both plans should offer confidentiality so using the service should not get back to the employer.

Lue Podewils:

Charissa Bichsel: Different companies handle this differently . . . some have base pay for a period of time until an new agent gets into the position of having their own commissions in a state of wellness for income.Some companies just toss you out there and help you along with training, etc. . . . Good business once its up and! running however....Show more

Veta Slicker: If they can'! t be resubmitted, you do nothing.

Susan Rambo: I don't know. The federal government employees do have that coverage, I don't know about other insurances.

Marcellus Yoshimori: mine covers it...need to check and see if it covers any psych visits too...could end up being costly for you. good luck...

Ramona Pago: When you say "switch in employment" did you mean to another company sponsored plan? If so, that IS Group Coverage and not Individual. If you signed up for the coverage on the pretext of the booklet they had sent you, and were then told they provided you with the wrong information, that is "bait and switch" and I would sue in a heart beat. If it is individual insurance there should be some form of Buy Up coverage that would allow you to purchase Mental Health Coverage for an additional fee. However, Blue Cross is a multimillion dollar insurance agency and should not be making mistakes like sending out wrong booklets to their insureds. I would recommend! switching carriers if you have the choice....Show more

Clay Lipira: Yes, sadly it is typical. Also, many surgeries aren't covered by most plans.I hope your boyfriend feels better!

Sol Bayn: I have been off work since Jan of this year and I was wondering if I Can recive short turm disability if I am on L&I?

Von Houskeeper: Heather, my guess is that you would be better off getting a job in a bakery.The insurance business is great, regardless of the economy. The turkeys that make excuses on why they do not want to buy insurance will always come up with something. Excuses are like earlobes. Most people can offer two.It is a brutal business when you first start out. As the first responder, above, mentions, some companies offer you a base to keep food in the refrigerator. That base of income, Heather, means that you do not have to be productive. You will still receive the money. For a while, anyway, slackers receive an income.It also means that if you! are effective, your income will be lower. It is because some of the m! oney that would normally come to you has to be paid to a slacker. The higher the commission, the less the company pays out to slackers. The lower the commission, the more the company pays out to slackers.It is really a tough business. The rewards are only here for those who will put in the long hours...consistently.If this is not you, then go with my opening suggestion. That is a much easier way for you to make bread....Show more

Derrick Cacioppo: That doesn't seem typical. Most insurance plans have decent coverage for mental illness.

Isreal Kochheiser: that does'nt seem right, mental health is just as important as physical health, and it seems like antidepressants are one of the most expensive too, i just picked up mine and it was 94 dollars (unreal) ! but maybe it covers the meds cause you can get them from a regular MD

Willa Holte: Insurance is regulated at the state level. Therefore it varies from state to state. Many states mandate that the p! olicy includes the coverage however companies may design a plan that does not meet the state mandates as long as they disclose to you that the plan does not meet the mandates. In Texas it is not uncommon for individual plans to exclude or limit coverage for mental health. This is primarily due to 2 reasons. 1-past experience of abuse. It is extremely easy for providers and patients to abuse this portion of a policy because it may be very subjective. 2- It is extremely difficult for actuaries to predict the risk of mental health issues. Attorney's often deal in grey areas, very few things are black and white. Engineers on the other hand don't deal in grey areas, everything is black or white. Actuaries are more like engineers than attorneys. If you have cancer the insurance company knows the treatment regimen and very little is subjective regarding when treatment should begin, end, or what the treatment should be. However mental health is much more subjective, when ! is someone cured, when should the treatment end, etc....Show more

Stanton Degregorio: most insurance has a limited cover of mental illness this usually varies if the cause of mental health problem was organic or in-organic. you may refer to the policy coverage on how these services can be covered this are stated.

Kandi Lough: No, that's not a standard. I work for the largest employer in the U.S.A. Our health insurance was improved a couple of years ago, giving us mental health benefits the same as for physical health. This has set a standard that the rest of the industry should follow. It will take time, and there won't be 100% compliance until it's required by law.

Dorethea Beaston: Yes....if a plan covers mental health at all, it is usually very limited.A big part of the reason is depression, anxiety disorders and eating disorders are so widespread in our culture.

Denna Prudente: It depends on the insurance company. I know if a company is "self insured" they do not have to cover it, or can pick only a minor percen! tage to cover (sad but true). Google the "Mental Health Parity Act". Basically it states that mental illness should be treated as any other illness, but as I said, his insurance may have an exemption. IMHO, US health insurance is grossly lacking in many aspects. Unless you are fortunate enough to work someplace that provides it for you, or pays a percentage for you or, you are indigent and qualify for medicaid, you are left in the group of uninsured or underinsured. Thanks for letting me vent on the sorry state of Health Insurance coverage for our citizens....Show more

Roland Stampley: I have two insurances. In March, a couple prescriptions went through secondary insurance instead of the primary insurance. What do I do now? The claims can't be resubmitted.

Mildred Pombo: Insurance policies vary greatly. You should always find out exactly what the policy covers or does not cover prior to investing in it. You may also want to consider a medical flex account ! for these unexpected types of expenses.

Cody Petrulis: No its not! -most reputable insurance plans cover mental health and prescriptions -sounds like he has a supplemental insurance plan and not Major Medical which he needs to have-unfortunately even if he changes this is a preexisting condition and more than likely will have a waiting period to cover it. He can get prescription card now-search under prescription help and similar topics and can get one for approx 90 some dollars a year or even less . His family doctor can prescribe Zoloft-any MD can.Tell him to go for family doctor will understand his situation if he doesn't any MD will/can prescribe and then shop for lowest price like at Costco. Hope I helped....Show more

Emerita Sciandra: Blue Cross covers some. But most mental health services are covered poorly, if at all.

Eva Lichlyter: It is very simple. Most states require GROUP health insurance to cover mental health, pregnancy, etc.However, most states do not require INDIVIDUAL health insurance to cover these same! items.It is economics. They don't cover those things because they are expensive.You can look at state subsidized programs to see if that would help....Show more

Fermin Tara: My coverage treated this kind of medication as a prescription, for which I paid a copay. The counseling was covered by my plan.