Health Insurance and Mental Health Illnesses in Florida

Health Insurance and Mental Health Illnesses in Florida

If you have health insurance, live in Florida and have been suffering from mental illness, you are not alone. Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by mental illness each year. And, one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year and suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenager and young adults.

Although there is not a proven “cure” or evidence that a certain method will lead to the cure for mental illnesses, therapy and medications can help people overcome these difficult moments in life.

Health insurance and mental health services have their issues

Since 2014, most individual and small health insurance plans are required to cover mental health services…thanks to the American Care Act.

Unfortunately, some insurance companies still don’t cover mental and physical health issues equally. Even though federal laws require them to do so.

42% struggle to cover costs

A study from NAMI in 2020, found that 42% of people struggle to cover mental health costs. So despite whether you’re insured through your job or yourself, most mental health treatments can be difficult to afford.

The expensive costs of mental health treatments have been an issue for a long time, and it got worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, last year, almost 80% of young people who had an anxiety or depression screen scored with moderate to severe symptoms.

Some don’t seek treatment

While younger generations are more likely to attend therapy than their predecessors, 20% of diagnosed people don’t seek treatment — and it’s not hard to know why. Even with insurance, the copay for a therapy session can range from just a few dollars to $70 or more. And, in some cases, their health insurance plan does not cover their total treatment.

How can I know if my plan covers mental health services?

For those who have health insurance through their company, and there are more than 50 employees in the company, the health insurance provider is required to provide equal mental health services.

If you purchased health insurance through Obamacare (ACA), you may have greater access to mental health services. So consult your plan’s detailed coverage description document. The Affordable Care Act helped more than 21 million Americans get access to health coverage.

I need mental health treatment. What can I do now?

If you need treatment, there’s no need to panic. Here’s some things you can do to lower these costs:

1. Visit the website of each provider you are interested in to learn if they accept our health insurance or not. If you don’t find it, call your insurer and ask them to send you a list of in-network professionals.
2. If you already have a preferred out-of-network provider, but it is straightening your budget, you can look for reimbursement. It will depend solely on your health insurance plan. Some health insurance plans work with reimbursements for out-of-network providers. You can get some of those funds back with a claim.
3. Try tel-medicine. According to multiple studies, online therapy is just as effective as in-person treatment.
4. Review your health insurance plan. If possible, call your insurer and ask them all the questions you might have regarding your plan.

Save yourself time and stress

You can save yourself a lot of time and stress when looking for mental health treatment. Choose to shop for health insurance with the Florida Health Agency.

Our health insurance experts are well-informed about every detail of the plan that may be the perfect fit for your needs. Our work is to help you find the plan that you need and afford.

Florida Health Agency agents will help you compare your health insurance plan options. They will assist you to find the plan that suits you best.

Our services are free

And the best part is that shopping for health insurance with us is completely free. You will not pay more for a plan purchased through Florida Health Agency than you would if you were to purchase it anywhere else. Additionally, our health insurance experts are always here to help you with questions even after you’ve purchased a plan.