Paying for depression care in Pennsylvania
How to check what your insurance covers, how Medicaid works for mental health in Pennsylvania, and where to find free or low-cost care if you don't have insurance.
Under clinical review. Written from the sources listed below; updated October 18, 2026.
Cost shouldn't stop you from getting help. Whether you have private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare or no insurance, there are ways to get care. Here's where to start.
If you have insurance through work or the Marketplace
Marketplace plans must cover mental health care, and can't refuse you or charge more because of a past or current mental health condition. Most work plans cover it too. Call the member services number on the back of your card and ask:
- Is this provider in network for my plan?
- What will I pay per visit (copay or coinsurance), and do I have a deductible to meet first?
- Do I need a referral or prior approval?
- Can you send me a list of in-network therapists who are taking new clients?
Tip: ask them to note the call. It helps if a bill later doesn't match what they told you.
- In network
- The provider has a contract with your insurer, so you pay less.
- Copay
- A set amount you pay for each visit, like $30.
- Coinsurance
- A share of the cost you pay, like 20%.
- Deductible
- What you pay yourself each year before your insurance starts paying.
Medicaid (Medical Assistance) in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, Medicaid is also called Medical Assistance (MA). It covers mental health care, including therapy, medicine and drug and alcohol treatment.
Most people with Medicaid get mental health care through a program called Behavioral HealthChoices. Each county works with a behavioral health managed care organization that runs its mental health services. To find a provider, call the member services number for your county's behavioral health plan. It's on your plan's materials, or your county mental health office can tell you.
How to apply: online through COMPASS, by phone at 1-866-550-4355, in person at your County Assistance Office, or by mail. You can apply any time of year.
Medicaid rules in Pennsylvania are changing in 2027. Check pa.gov for the latest.
Medicare
Medicare Part B covers outpatient mental health care, including therapy and visits with a psychiatrist, social worker, psychologist, nurse practitioner, marriage and family therapist or mental health counselor. Telehealth visits are covered too. After the yearly deductible, you usually pay 20% of the approved amount. A yearly depression screening in primary care is free if your provider accepts Medicare's rates.
Children and teens
If your child or teen doesn't have insurance and doesn't qualify for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) may cover them. You can apply through COMPASS too.
Free and low-cost options
- Community health centers
- Federally funded clinics that charge on a sliding scale based on income. No one is turned away because they can't pay. Many offer mental health care; call to check. Our directory lists every one in Pennsylvania.
- Open Path Collective
- A nonprofit network of therapists who offer reduced-rate sessions after a one-time membership fee.
- University training clinics
- Graduate students in psychology or counseling see clients under close supervision, often at low cost. Ask universities near you.
- Sliding scale
- Many private therapists lower their fee if you ask. It's OK to say: "Do you offer a sliding scale?"
Free support is available too, like peer support groups and warmlines. See help in your county and our directory.
Ready to look for care?
Sources
- Apply for Medicaid, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
- Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
- Mental health care (outpatient), Medicare.gov
- Mental health & substance abuse coverage, HealthCare.gov
- Find a health center, Health Resources and Services Administration
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Something wrong or unclear? Tell us.
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