Mental Health
What is covered?
All health plans through Covered California include free mental health and
substance use disorder services.
These services are considered preventive care and must be covered at no
cost to you — even if you haven’t met your deductible — as long as you use
an in-network doctor or hospital and the service is isn’t part of any
ongoing treatment.
These services are usually provided during a routine check-up, not during
a visit for specific symptoms or therapy.
Some health insurers within Covered California provide additional mental
health benefits free of charge. Depending on the plan you choose, you may
get access to free meditation apps, a 24/7 crisis-support hotline and peer
support for substance abuse.
Minimum-Coverage Plans for People Under 30
Minimum-coverage plans include up to three outpatient or urgent-care
mental health visits per year that are completely free (no copays or
deductibles).
Also known as catastrophic plans, these plans are only available to people
under 30. They usually have higher costs when you use medical services,
but lower monthly premium payments.
Non-Preventive Mental Health Services
These services are covered by your health plan but aren’t free. They are subject to a deductible or copay (what you pay at the time of service). What you pay depends on which coverage level (metal tier) you buy.
- Counseling for a diagnosed condition (such as anxiety or depression)
- Psychiatric evaluations or medication management
- Substance use disorder treatment (like rehab or therapy)
- Mental health hospitalization or partial hospitalization
California state law requires that all health plans cover diagnosis and treatment for specific serious mental health conditions like major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and emotional disturbances in children. In addition, it’s required that mental health treatment be equal to other forms of health care. That means that things like out-of-pocket costs must be comparable to other services. Health plans must also offer members a return behavioral health appointment within 10 business days after referral or initial visit. Also known as catastrophic plans, these plans are only available to people under 30. They usually have higher costs when you use medical services, but lower monthly premium payments.