What does Medicare pay for if a parent has a mental illiness?

So much depends on where we live. In my community most (probably not all) of the psychiatrists and psychologists accept Medicare and Medicaid. In many places you may have to search, as Ferris said.

What we pay in Medicare depends on which plan the person carries if they carry a supplemental policy at all. Plan F leaves no co-pay (but is more expensive). Other plans have a co-pay as stated. If no supplemental coverage has been put in place, then there will be the standard 20%.

It angers me that mental and cognitive disorders are still treated differently than "physical" disorders. Most mental disorders seem to have a physical basis but even if they don't, what should it matter? That's the stigma that has yet to disappear. Very sad and unfair.

Good luck,
Carol

A mental illness is covered by Medicare at 80% with you paying the rest, unless you have other insurance. Be warned though, psychiatrists in the US are starting to NOT take Medicare and want their payments with other carriers. Search, like I did, until you find a psychiatrist who takes Medicare. They do exist, but like any other specialty in medicine, they know how to get their full payment, regardless if a patient is in need. Of course, if a patient is having a medical crises, an ER visit then a psychiatrist will come in for a consult. Best of luck finding a psychiatrist.

If you are talking about care in a Memory Care facility, they would pay out of pocket until they qualify for Medicaid. If the patient is hospitalized, the Medicare co-pays apply, and those can be considerable.
Services may also be available through the county office for the disabled.

It might depend on your plan administrator's policy and what the diagnosis is. Our medicare covers visits with a counselor, but there is a $40 co-pay.

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) is working to help. Google NAMI and then your state and you should be able to connect with someone with more knowledge of how to get assistance.

Carol is absolutely correct in that mental illness is not treated equally with physical illnesses. It is a huge issue in our society, and not just for elderly persons. Many people with mental illnesses are homeless or end up in prison because there is no other place for them to go. Just taking them to the ER doesn't mean they will get help, because the ER can and will release them if they are not a danger to themselves or others. Finding a mental health bed can mean a long wait and/or getting sent far from home to the next available bed.

I live in Des Moines, Iowa. Just a month or so ago, one of the two large hospital systems in the city shut down their mental health care program due to a lack of qualified staff, leaving 8000 adults to find a new provider. We all need to speak up about this inequality.

When I mentioned a mental health crisis, I meant the person was a danger to themselves or others, and the ER has to find them a doctor. Also, even though dementia is a mental illness, I believe the question related to other mental illnesses, so idoshan please clarify...