What you'll learn
- Part B covers outpatient mental health care, including individual and group therapy, psychiatric evaluations, and medication management.
- A yearly depression screening costs $0 when your provider accepts assignment. Most other outpatient visits cost 20% after the Part B deductible.
- Through Dec. 31, 2027, Medicare covers telehealth from anywhere in the U.S., including your home. That includes outpatient psychotherapy.
- If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988. For free Medicare counseling in Texas, call HICAP at 1-800-252-9240.
Depression, anxiety, grief, and substance use don't stop at 65. Retirement, the loss of a spouse, a new diagnosis, or caring for someone you love can all take a toll. The good news is that Medicare covers a wide range of mental health care, and in a state as big as Texas, a lot of it can now happen by phone or video from your own home.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Call 911 for an immediate medical emergency.
What Part B covers
Most mental health care happens outside the hospital, and that's Part B. Medicare says Part B covers a wide range of outpatient services, including:
- Individual and group psychotherapy (talk therapy)
- Family counseling, when the main goal is to help with your treatment
- Psychiatric evaluations and medication management
- Testing to see whether your treatment is working
- Partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs
- Mental health care that's part of substance use disorder treatment
- Safety planning if you're at risk of suicide or overdose, and a follow-up call after an emergency room visit for a behavioral health crisis
- One depression screening each year in a primary care setting
Your "Welcome to Medicare" visit and your yearly wellness visit also include a chance to talk about your mood and mental health. Our guide to Part B preventive care explains those visits.
Who you can see
You aren't limited to psychiatrists. Medicare lists these providers for covered mental health services:
- Psychiatrists and other doctors
- Clinical psychologists and clinical social workers
- Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists
- Marriage and family therapists
- Mental health counselors
That's a big help in parts of Texas where psychiatrists are hard to find. Ask any provider whether they're enrolled in Medicare and accept assignment, which limits what they can bill you.
What you pay
| Service | What you pay in Original Medicare |
|---|---|
| Yearly depression screening | $0 if your provider accepts assignment |
| Therapy and other outpatient visits | 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) |
| Care in a hospital outpatient department | 20%, and you may owe an extra copayment or coinsurance to the hospital |
| Inpatient stay | Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period in 2026), then $0 for days 1–60 |
CMS announces new amounts each fall. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your costs and the providers you can use depend on the plan, so check its network before you book.
Telehealth matters in Texas
Many Texans live a long drive from the nearest therapist. With telehealth, you can see a provider by video, and in some cases by phone, without leaving home. For most telehealth services, you pay the same as you would for an in-person visit. Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer more telehealth options than Original Medicare.
If you live in a rural county, telehealth can be the difference between getting care and going without. It's worth asking your doctor about it, especially if driving is getting harder.
If you need hospital care
Part A covers mental health care when you're admitted as an inpatient, either in a general hospital or a psychiatric hospital. Part B covers the doctors and other providers who treat you there, and you generally pay 20% of their approved amount.
One rule surprises families: in a psychiatric hospital, Part A pays for up to 190 days in your lifetime. That cap doesn't apply in a general hospital. For more on how Part A hospital costs work, see our Part A explainer.
What about medication?
Most pills for depression, anxiety, or other conditions are covered by Part D, not Part B. Before your plan year starts, make sure every medication you take is on your plan's drug list. Our guide to 2027 Part D premiums in Texas can help, and the annual enrollment guide explains how to change plans by Dec. 7.
Local help in Texas
Texas HHS contracts with 37 local mental health authorities and two local behavioral health authorities that serve every part of the state. Each has a confidential referral line that answers 24/7. You can find yours by county or ZIP code on the Texas HHS website.
If cost is what's stopping you, ask about help paying for Part B in Texas. For free, unbiased help with your Medicare coverage, call HICAP at 1-800-252-9240 or 1-800-MEDICARE (Spanish is available), or visit Medicare.gov.
Common questions
Can I see a licensed counselor or family therapist with Medicare?
Yes. Medicare lists mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists among the providers who can give covered mental health services, along with psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists. Ask whether the provider is enrolled in Medicare and accepts assignment.
Is there a limit on inpatient psychiatric care?
If you're treated in a psychiatric hospital, Part A pays for up to 190 days of inpatient psychiatric hospital care in your lifetime. That limit doesn't apply to mental health care you get as an inpatient in a general hospital.
Does Medicare cover medication for depression or anxiety?
Pills you take on your own at home are generally covered by Medicare drug coverage (Part D), either through a stand-alone drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage. Part B covers certain drugs you don't usually give yourself, like some injections.
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Mental health care (outpatient)
- Medicare.gov: Mental health care (inpatient)
- Medicare.gov: Telehealth
- Medicare.gov: Depression screening
- CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles
- Texas HHS: Find your local mental health or behavioral health authority
- Texas HHS: Medicare counseling (HICAP)
