Mental health care (inpatient)
Medicare covers mental health care services you get as a hospital inpatient and services you get from a doctor while you’re in the hospital
Description
Mental health care services involve diagnosing and treating people with mental health disorders, like depression and anxiety.
Coverage details
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)
covers mental health care services you get when you’re admitted as a hospital inpatient.
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)
covers the services you get from a doctor or other
health care provider
while you’re in the hospital.
Medicare doesn't cover:
- Private duty nursing
- A phone or television in your room (if there's a separate charge for these items)
- Personal items, like toothpaste, socks, or razors
- A private room, unless medically necessary
Costs
What you pay for each benefit period in 2026 depends on how long you're getting care:
- Days 1–60: After you pay the $1,736 deductible , you pay $0 each day.
- Days 61–90: You pay $434 each day.
- Days 91-150: You pay $868 each day while using your 60 lifetime reserve days. These are additional days that Medicare will pay for when you're in a hospital for more than 90 days. You have a total of 60 reserve days that can be used once during your lifetime.
- After Day 150: You pay all costs.
- You also pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for mental health services you get from providers while you're a hospital inpatient.
Facility
- You can get these inpatient services either in a general hospital or a psychiatric hospital (a facility that only cares for people with mental health disorders).
- If you're in a psychiatric hospital (instead of a general hospital), Part A only pays for up to 190 days of inpatient psychiatric hospital services during your lifetime.
Ask your doctor or healthcare provider how much your test, item, or service will cost.
Your doctor may recommend services that Medicare does not cover or offers too frequently. This could end up in additional costs for you. Make sure to ask your doctor about the reasons for these recommendations and what Medicare will actually cover.
Specific amounts you could owe depend on:
Other insurance you may have
How much your doctor charges
If your doctor accepts assignment
The type of facility
Where you get your test, item, or service