Best Mental Health Insurance Companies

An alarmingly large number of people suffer from some type of mental illness. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, over 51 million people in the United States suffer from mental illness each year. Even more concerning is the fact that 56% of those adults received no therapy for their illness in the previous year. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, compliant healthcare policies now encompass mental health insurance as one of the 10 essential healthcare benefits. This guide will assist you in choosing a mental health insurance provider that best meets your mental and behavioral health requirements.

The best mental health insurance features a large number of in-network providers, allowing you to seek treatment without a referral and providing additional online or offline resources for your support.

Top Mental Health Insurance Coverage

1. United Healthcare

UnitedHealthcare is a reputable healthcare company that has been in operation since 1977. Because of their amazing network and reputation, as well as 24/7 mental health assistance, treatment options for drug abuse disorders, and excellent online resources, United Healthcare is our top overall choice for mental health coverage.

Easy access to continuing care is critical for anyone dealing with mental health issues. United Healthcare offers a wide range of mental health services, including telehealth, phone assistance, substance abuse treatment, and another behavioral health program, making them an obvious pick for our overall mental health coverage preference.

United Healthcare is a behemoth in the healthcare business, with a network of over 1.3 million doctors and 6,500 hospitals and other facilities spread across the country. United has an A grade for financial stability from AM Best, as well as a rating of 3.0 or better out of a maximum of 5 from the National Committee for Quality Assurance in most of the states where it operates.

Your UnitedHealthcare deductible and copay options are determined by your plan. With cost-sharing plans, however, you typically pay roughly 20% of expenditures after reaching your deductible. UnitedHealthcare provides coverage throughout the United States, although not all of its plans are available in every state. In fact, in some counties or remote locations, some of its in-person mental health care alternatives may be restricted.

2. Kaiser

Mental health and wellbeing treatments, according to Kaiser Permanente, are an important aspect of a person’s complete care experience. To that aim, they offer a variety of mental health services, including counseling and therapy, crisis intervention, addiction and recovery support, and eating disorder treatment. Kaiser was our top customer service choice because of its wide range of services and consistently outstanding customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power and Associates.

It’s a managed care organization with 39 hospitals, 719 medical offices, and teams of psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and clinical nurse experts on staff. Members can see any physician they want without needing a referral.

Suicide prevention, depression and anxiety services, counseling, therapy, and substance abuse help are all available on an inpatient or outpatient basis. To help people cope with stress, Kaiser offers online communities, support groups, podcasts, and wellness coaching.

Monthly premiums for the bronze plan start at $400 with a $7,000 deductible or $3,500 with a maximum out-of-pocket of $7,000. There isn’t a limit to how much coverage you can get. Typical ACA waiting periods range from two to six weeks.

3. Cigna

Cigna is a multinational insurance corporation with a long history in the United States. Cigna plans may not require out-of-network approvals, and they offer great round-the-clock virtual treatment, which is why they ranked first in our telehealth rankings.

Cigna has a comprehensive system of outpatient and inpatient mental health care. It offers 12-step courses, counseling, support groups, and partial hospitalization as part of its outpatient services. On their website, you may get quotes for your location. Basic coverage with a $6,750 deductible and an $8,150 maximum out-of-pocket cost starts at roughly $300 under the Affordable Care Act. The coverage does not have a cap, and the standard ACA waiting period applies.

Some plans include prescription drug coverage. You can also personalize your plan with a variety of riders, such as hospital indemnity, cancer treatment, lump-sum heart attack, and stroke insurance. 

You must live in one of the following states to be eligible for a Cigna health insurance plan: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Texas.

4. WellCare

WellCare was founded in 1985 and has not been given a rating by AM Best. WellCare, the winner of the best inexpensive plans award, offers several Medicare and Medicaid plan solutions. Its mental health coverage covers depression, drug and alcohol addiction, loss of weight, and a variety of other mental and behavioral health issues.

WellCare’s website allows you to look for a provider, it has a 24-hour crisis line, and it offers a variety of treatment choices, including telehealth appointments, residential addiction treatment, partial hospitalizations, online programs, and outpatient treatments.

During 12 months, however, the company only provides one mental health assessment and one chemical dependency assessment. In comparison to other providers, WellCare’s online resources are limited.

5. Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente, a well-known health plan provider, was created in 1945 but only operates in eight states and the District of Columbia (Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia). It has an A financial strength rating from AM Best.

You don’t need a reference for mental health or addiction treatment, and you may easily schedule a one-on-one appointment with a mental health expert who can promptly prescribe psychiatric medications. Kaiser takes the top spot for prescription drug coverage because of this availability. Refill your covered drugs and have them mailed to you through Kaiser Permanente’s pharmacy, making your prescription drug coverage simple.

Kaiser Permanente provides a variety of mental health services, including primary care, emergency care, and specialized areas that overlap with mental health, such as cardiac care and oncology. Online self-care tools and resources are free, and treatment for any mental, emotional, or drug use disorder is only a phone call away. Telehealth consultations, group, and individual therapy, inpatient and outpatient program are all available to Kaiser members.

Kaiser Permanente offers an online tool to help you manage your therapy as well as self-care apps to help you manage your mental health daily. It does not specify how many mental health providers it collaborates with.

Choosing Top Mental Health Insurance Providers

All of the mental health insurance providers on our “best of” list provide options that make it simple to get mental health help through programs that are tailored to your specific requirements. Telehealth consultations, apps, outpatient treatment, and inpatient treatment are all available.