How Are We Supposed to Afford Mental Health Treatment?

Do you know how to afford mental health treatment? Recently a friend of mine became overwhelmed by her bills for mental health treatment. Desperate for money, she created a GoFundMe page. I was disturbed by this because no one should have to create a crowdfunding page to get treatment for mental illness. The sad thing is, she's not the only person I know who has done this. It made me think about how to afford mental health treatment.

Why People Can't Afford Mental Health Treatment

There are many reasons why people can't afford mental health treatment. For example, they may not have insurance. I lost my life savings after I was hospitalized for 10 days without insurance. And when I finally went on Medicare for disability, I found I couldn't afford the copay. This lead to a vicious cycle--my mental health provider cut back on treatment because I couldn't pay for it, which caused me to need more treatment, which I only got in an emergency setting, which led to further financial hardship.

We as consumers need to advocate for parity. We should push for insurance to cover mental health the same way it covers physical health. There should not be a cap on mental health benefits if there is no similar cap on physical health benefits. There should be no difference between inpatient and outpatient services. People should not be forced to choose between food and medication, or rent and medication. We need mental health care reform and we need it three weeks ago.

No one should have to set up a GoFundMe page to get mental health treatment, just as how no one should have to set up a GoFundMe page for physical health treatment so they don't die.

Check for a Sliding Scale to Afford Mental Health Treatment

Many community mental health centers have a sliding scale for treatment. A sliding scale means they look at your income and decide how much you can pay. This is great for people with no insurance. However, having insurance can complicate this. For example, when I was uninsured, I paid $10 a session. When I got Medicare disability, the treatment facility was required by federal law to charge me more--something like $45.77. I could not afford this, so I cut back on treatment.

Going on Medicaid disability made mental health treatment affordable again--what Medicare doesn't cover, Medicaid disability usually does. This has helped me to get the services I need. There is a catch, however--I am limited in what I can make. If I make too much money, I lose my Medicaid. This basically guarantees I will live in poverty short of a miracle. We need to reform this. No one should have to worry about how to get mental health treatment and still make ends meet.

Other Resources to Help Afford Mental Health Treatment

There are other free or low-cost resources available. They include:

1. Support groups
2. Employee-assistance plans
3. Psychology departments at local universities
4. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
5. Mental Health America (MHA)
6. Mental health apps such as ACT Coach and Breathe2Relax available for your cell phone
7. Houses of worship
8. Websites such as HealthyPlace (Where to Find Mental Health Services in Your Area)

There are many options for affordable mental health treatment, ranging from the traditional self-help books, group therapy, to paying next to nothing on a sliding scale. Do whatever works for you. You're worth it. You're a human being who deserves the best help a therapist can offer. Don't give up.

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