Mental health care (inpatient)
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.
Description
Mental health care services involve diagnosing and treating people with mental health disorders, like depression and anxiety.
Coverage details
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
You pay this for each benefit period :
- Days 1–60: $0 after you meet your Part A deductible ($1,736 in 2026).
- Days 61–90: $434 each day in 2026.
- Days 91 and beyond: $868 each day in 2026 for each lifetime reserve day (up to a maximum of 60 reserve days over your lifetime).
- Each day after you use all of your lifetime reserve days: You pay all costs.
- 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for mental health services you get from doctors and other health care 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