End-of-Year Mental Health Insurance Checklist
Our friends at Cover My Mental Health remind us to take valuable steps toward our mental wellness as we move toward a new year. Please heed their advice as you consider how and where you receive treatment. Cover My Mental Health is a non-profit that supports individuals to overcome insurer obstacles to care, notably denials for “not medically necessary,” “no in-network provider” available, and other inexplicable barriers to care.
From their recent newsletter:
As the year comes to a close, now is a good time to make sure everything is in order to help maintain and optimize your mental health. A little preparation before December 31 can help you avoid disruptions, reduce surprises, and enter the new year feeling more confident about your access to care.
- REVIEW. Start by reviewing your current insurance plan. Look at what your mental health benefits cover, what remains on your deductible, and if you’ve met your out-of-pocket maximum. Then schedule any appointments you need this month.
- CONFIRM. Next, confirm that your therapist, psychiatrist, or treatment program will remain in-network for the new year. Providers change networks more often than most people realize, and a quick phone call can prevent unexpected surprises later.
- GATHER. It’s also wise to gather updated documentation from your clinician. Treatment summaries and progress notes help support medical necessity determinations—an important safeguard if your insurer questions a claim. Consider creating a simple system to keep everything in one place—your policy, correspondence, explanations of benefits, and any letters you or your clinician may need. Organized records make interactions with your insurance provider much easier and less stressful.
- SUBMIT. If you have outstanding claims, submit them as soon as possible. Insurers experience heavy backlogs around the holidays, and early submission increases the chances of timely processing.
- SCHEDULE. Then look ahead. Schedule January appointments now, especially if you rely on weekly or biweekly sessions. Consider any coverage changes your plan will introduce next year so you can anticipate possible shifts in copays or authorizations around your scheduled sessions.
The process to get insurance companies to pay for mental health bills can be frustrating and draining. With a little preparation and organization now, you can ease interactions with your insurance provider and stroll into the new year on steady footing. And Cover My Mental Health will continue to offer guidance, templates, and tools to support your access to care.
Visit Cover My Mental Health for encouragement and free resources when insurance obstacles get in the way.
You can support our ongoing mission to promote mental health and our work to prevent mental illness and substance use disorders through education, advocacy, and service.
Please donate today.