1. < Depression & Anxiety

Psychotherapists who accept medicare??

Posted by fate @fate, Nov 16, 2021

I have searched for over a year for a therapist who accepts medicare. My long term therapist retired and left me without a referral. These "young" therapist want private pay it seems. Are we older folks thrown to the curb because we are not profitable? Community mental health only cater to addiction therapy. I feel bitter, angry and terribly saddened that mental health care is accessible only to the more wealthy.

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sears | @sears | Jun 17, 2022
In reply to @kayjay209 "hi all i wish i could say i found someone taking medicare but have not. currently..." + (show)
@kayjay209

hi all

i wish i could say i found someone taking medicare but have not. currently i am private paying for a psychiatrist to manage my meds. actually my son has helped me with the payments as it is about 350.00 an hour. fortunately he does half hour charges. i searched in my area for months. i have medicare with a supplement plan. no help from medicare or my supplemental insurance. my county will help me if i drop my supplement and apply for medi-cal. i can't do that as i have had cancer and don't want to lose the extended coverage. my therapist takes both but she can not prescribe. it's a mess. i am so close to stopping the psychiatrist because of the cost to me and my son.

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Sad to see a fully insured person has to stop treatment. Good luck.

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sears | @sears | Jun 17, 2022

It’s not necessarily the young doctors. When I was searching the doctors were of all ages. The one I have now that doesn't accept Medicare is in his 60’s.

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kayjay209 | @kayjay209 | Jun 17, 2022
In reply to @sears "Sad to see a fully insured person has to stop treatment. Good luck." + (show)
@sears

Sad to see a fully insured person has to stop treatment. Good luck.

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crazy isn't it?

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kayjay209 | @kayjay209 | Jun 17, 2022
In reply to @sears "It’s not necessarily the young doctors. When I was searching the doctors were of all ages...." + (show)
@sears

It’s not necessarily the young doctors. When I was searching the doctors were of all ages. The one I have now that doesn't accept Medicare is in his 60’s.

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my psychiatrist is in his 80's

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sears | @sears | Jun 17, 2022
In reply to @kayjay209 "my psychiatrist is in his 80's" + (show)
@kayjay209

my psychiatrist is in his 80's

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He doesn’t take Medicare?

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1 reply
tizzie137 | @tizzie137 | Jun 17, 2022
In reply to @sears "You can call Medicare directly and they may be able to help. The problem that I..." + (show)
@sears

You can call Medicare directly and they may be able to help. The problem that I had with the doctors that took Medicare were doctors I personally would have never wanted to treat me. I found that the really reputable doctors do not take Medicare. Hoping you have a different outcome. Good luck. It’s a sad state of affairs for us old people when it comes to our mental health.

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I called Medicare for referral to therapist. They gave me the following as resource referral:
Thriveworks Counseling (ALL their therapist resources accept Medicare) 1-811-553-4653
Thriveworks.com U join their service (sm fee per month) and they hook you up w/therapist; I am doing my online zoom

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1 reply
sears | @sears | Jun 17, 2022
In reply to @tizzie137 "I called Medicare for referral to therapist. They gave me the following as resource referral: Thriveworks..." + (show)
@tizzie137

I called Medicare for referral to therapist. They gave me the following as resource referral:
Thriveworks Counseling (ALL their therapist resources accept Medicare) 1-811-553-4653
Thriveworks.com U join their service (sm fee per month) and they hook you up w/therapist; I am doing my online zoom

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That’s great! Glad Medicare was able to help. Hoping you get the help you need.

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tizzie137 | @tizzie137 | Jun 17, 2022

In reply to @sears "You can call Medicare directly and they may be able to help. The problem that I..." + (show)
I called Medicare for referral to therapist. They gave me the following as resource referral:
Thriveworks Counseling (ALL their therapist resources accept Medicare) 1-811-553-4653
Thriveworks.com U join their service (sm fee per month) and they hook you up w/therapist; I am doing my online zoom

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tizzie137 | @tizzie137 | Jun 17, 2022

yes, I was following this trail and saw Posted by fate @fate, Nov 16, 2021 mentioned that she was not able to get any help from Medicare - so passing along that lead above!!

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