I've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 66. How should I structure my Medicare coverage to ensure I get the mental health care I need?
Answered by 8 licensed agents
Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage plans cover mental health visits and hospitalization due to mental health. Part D prescription drug plans cover medications. Please contact your agent to see if your medications are covered. If you do not have Medicare yet, please contact a local agent to help you.
Yes. The most obvious means toward doing that is to ask your agent what is covered in your policy in the area of mental health and those medications that are prescribed to treat that malady. If you want to compare your current plan with other companies, it is going to be essential for you to realize that mental health is covered by Medicare but only so much. This depends upon the State you live in, unfortunately. You need to call both Supplement firms as well as those who offer Advantage plans. Based on a "side-by-side" comparison, you should have enough ammunition to make a determination. It would have been better had you come to this conclusion before a full 12-months had elapsed after turning age 65. This means that now you will be subject to underwriting though you won't be declined just for a bipolar disorder but an accumulation of health issues that you might also have.
You need to work with an insurance agent or broker to help navigate you to understand your insurance plan. Or check into the 2025 plan guide your Medicare plan you have.
Yes, Medicare covers mental health services, including treatment for bipolar disorder, through both Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and Medicare Advantage plans, covering both inpatient and outpatient services, as well as prescription medications.
To ensure you get the mental health care you need, consider Medicare Advantage or Supplement Plans. Contact our Medicare Specialists for tailored advice.
You should talk to a broker about your specific situation. While that is important to know about the bipolar disorder, you should look at your entire health picture to understand the best coverage for you. If you are on medications for bipolar disorder then shopping all plans in your market is important to understand how to lower your Rx costs. As far as medical goes, original Medicare with a supplement is generally going to cover more mental health providers than Medicare Advantage and can reduce copays if you see a therapist regularly. Like with everyone, Medicare is highly personalized so there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution.
The first step would be to determine if there a C-SNP for bipolar disorder in your area that includes any providers you are not willing to change. If not, it would be necessary to review available plans find the one that best meets your mental health needs.
