Health insurance companies could be changing the way mental health services are covered. Today, most policyholders must purchase a secondary behavioral health policy to enjoy coverage for talk therapy, in-patient treatment, addiction, depression and metal health difficulties such as; schizophrenia, depression and eating disorders. Recent judicial decisions in California are changing the way mental health services are offered through health insurance companies. According to the judge's decision, health insurance companies must abide by the state's Mental Health Parity Act that requires insurance producers to provide coverage for physical illness and mental health issues alike. This ruling came after a 30-year-old woman with severe anorexia was denied coverage for 10 months of in-patient treatment at a residential facility. The intensive treatment involved the insertion of feeding tubes for the patient who weighed less than 64 percent of her ideal body weight.

Most behavioral health insurance plans cover a variety of mental health services designed to help those with major mental health issues as well as those dealing with common issues including; depression, addiction, stress and anxiety. Behavioral health insurance plans also provide beneficial services for children and adolescents suffering from autism and emotional problems. These insurance plans help patients deal with depression, panic attacks, alcoholism and behavioral health problems that affect the daily life of patients and their ability to perform duties at home and at work. Mental health services are typically included in the behavioral health treatment portion of your secondary mental health insurance policy.

Securing a behavioral insurance policy is the first step to acquire benefits that will cover most mental health services. Depending on the policy and provider, benefits that cover mental health services may or may not be available to individuals. Some providers require these coverage options to be purchased through an employer or group. Most insurance policies for mental health services fall into two categories: payer carve-outs that require policyholders to select a third-party vendor and mental health subcontracts where health insurance companies hire a Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organization (MBHO) to handle all aspects of the plan administration.

Benefits included in behavioral health insurance policies often include a self-guided mental health assessment, behavioral health treatments, and disease management services to coordinate treatment between doctors, mental health professionals and your pharmacy. Policyholders also work with dedicated case managers to arrange individualized treatment plans. Health insurance companies that offer behavioral health insurance policies typically cover medications and pharmaceutical treatments as well as; counseling, talk therapy, treatment for addiction and various rehabilitation programs. Mental health services offered by health insurance companies are designed to improve the health and well-being of patients through personal services, treatment programs and medications.