If you think you may be living with a depressive disorder because you are experiencing symptoms of depression, the best thing you can do is get professional help. Treatment for depression provides a supportive environment, education, and tools necessary for managing symptoms of depression so that people living with depressive disorders can establish and maintain mental well-being. Unfortunately, many people who live with depressive disorders never get the help they need do to a number of reasons, but mainly because the cost of treatments for depression can be extensive. Fortunately, insurance coverage can help with the cost of depression treatments in many cases. So, if you have insurance and are living with depressive symptoms, you may be wondering if your insurance will help to cover the cost of getting help.
Understanding What Depression Is
Before you think about the costs of depression treatments and whether or not your insurance will cover them, it can be helpful to first identify if treatment is something you really need. Determining if you may be struggling with a depressive disorder is the first place to start. Recognizing the symptoms of depressive disorders can give you a better idea of whether or not you may be living with a depressive disorder. Common symptoms of depressive disorders include:
- sleeping too much or too little
- not caring about one’s own health and hygiene
- participating in dangerous, reckless activities like drug abuse or unprotected sex
- general apathy for things one used to care for
- isolation from friends, family, and loved ones
- feelings of hopelessness, despair, and deep sadness
- fluctuations in weight
- exhaustion
- lowered self-esteem
- suicidal ideation, self-harm, or thoughts of suicide
People Aren’t Getting the Depression Help They Need
Sadly, many people who are struggling with the effects of depressive disorders never get the help they need through treatment. This is largely due to the fact that depression treatment is often costly and people may worry that their insurance may not cover the cost. Some other reasons why people may not get help for depression include:
- fearing the stigmas that surround getting help including that a person is “weak” or “not strong enough” to deal with it on their own
- not having the time to get help and go to a specialist due to a busy schedule
- fearing that people will find out about their mental health struggles if they get help
Knowing More About Insurance for Depression Treatment
If you are struggling with depression, it may be time to get help. If you have insurance, you can call them or ask them to look at your plan specifics to see if mental health services are covered. If so, you can then work to find a mental health treatment center that accepts both your insurance and your type of insurance plan. Your insurance company will even be able to tell you about mental health facilities and doctors in your area that accept your insurance. Making sure that your insurance is utilized can help to reduce or even cover the cost of your depression treatment plan. So, it’s an initial but important step to getting the help you need.