Taking Care of Your Mental Health Has Never Been More Important — or Affordable
It’s a scary time for a lot of people—and if that’s taking a toll on your mental health, you’re not alone.
Nearly half of adults in the U.S. reported their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the coronavirus, according to an April Kaiser Family Foundation poll. On top of the pandemic, recent high-profile police killings of Black people have called for anti-racism protests to erupt globally. All of this leads to a need for accessibility to mental health services.
The good news is, there are a lot of options out there for people who can’t afford expensive treatment.
Here’s how to start your search.
Do you have insurance?
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, most people with health insurance now have mental health benefits, says Joel Young, a psychiatrist and the medical director of the Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine. And even if you don't have insurance now, you likely qualify. Medicaid, funded by the federal government and individual states, provides millions of low-income Americans with coverage. You can file today; the process varies by state.
We know: figuring out the ins and outs of what your insurance covers can be tricky. Call the number on the back of your insurance card—many will have a contact number specifically for mental health services—and ask for the details. (They can also help you find a provider once you get to that step).
