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If you break your leg, most insurance plans will cover the costs of your doctor visits, your treatment, and your plan of care moving forward. If you have depression, and your brain is sick, the opposite happens. Most insurance companies will not cover the cost of therapy, psychiatrist visits, or medication management. As the stigma of mental illness continues to exist in this country, the cost to receive adequate help continues to rise.
Fortunately, there are options out there that can assist you in obtaining the appropriate treatment at a reduced, and at times free, cost. Your brain is a vital organ. It shouldn’t be a luxury to talk to someone who specializes in mental health treatment, and it shouldn’t be unattainable due to a lack of financial means.
Here, we will go through 7 different ways to access free therapy, reduced cost prescription mental health medications, and ongoing support to aid in your journey towards healing.
1. Community Health Centers
Community Health Centers are nonprofit organizations that provide primary healthcare services, including mental health treatment, to underserved and low-income populations. They offer affordable or sliding-scale payment options for individuals who may not have insurance coverage.
2. NeedyMeds
NeedyMeds is a nonprofit organization that offers a comprehensive list of medication assistance programs, discount drug cards, and other resources to assist individuals in finding affordable mental health treatment options.
3. PAN Foundation
The PAN Foundation is an organization that offers financial aid to underinsured individuals with chronic or life-threatening illnesses, including mental health disorders. They offer grants to help cover the cost of prescription medications, including those used in mental health treatment.
4. Patient Advocate Foundation
The Patient Advocate Foundation is a non-profit that provides case management services and financial assistance to individuals without health insurance or unable to otherwise receive care for their mental health conditions.
5. Medicaid & Medicare
Medicaid and Medicare are government-funded healthcare programs. Medicaid provides health coverage to low-income individuals and families, including mental health treatment and prescription drug coverage. Medicare provides coverage to individuals 65 and older, as well as certain individuals with disabilities who are in need of mental health treatment or prescription medications.
6. National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics is a charitable organization that supports and advocates for free clinics across the country. These clinics often provide free or low-cost healthcare services, including mental health treatment, to individuals who are uninsured or underinsured.
7. Patient Assistance Programs
Patient Assistance Programs are programs offered by pharmaceutical companies to help individuals who cannot afford the cost of their medications. These programs provide financial assistance or free medications to eligible individuals, including those in need of mental health treatment and access to prescription drugs.
Access to mental health treatment, regardless of cost, is a necessity and should be readily available no matter what financial state you are currently in.
Mental health issues affect numerous individuals each year, and denying those individuals access to treatment based on financial limitations only exacerbates their conditions. Mental illness does not discriminate, and receiving affordable care for only a certain set of health issues is discriminatory. You are entitled to get the help you need.
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