In Canada it depends on whether it is psychological vs. psychiatric services. Psychiatric is covered in the province of Ontario because psychiatrists are medical doctors who prescribe medication. Psychological services on the other hand are not. That being said however, each case differs. For example if mental health occurred due to workplace, the WSIB can cover it. Work insurance can cover for families too. Hope this helps.

In accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Italian Supervirsory Authority considers to be unlawful any insurance clauses that prevent the mentally handicapped and persons making use of psychotropic drugs to beneit from insurance coverage. See the letter of 23 July 2012

In Italy the care services on mental healt are covered by the Nation Health Car Network

In Brazil, there is a law in force, since 1998, which provides for the care of people with mental disorders, including in cases of intoxication or withdrawal caused by alcoholism, or other forms of addiction. Carriers must cover injuries resulting from a suicide attempt, because they express psychological disorders. Sometimes, in practice, people face problems to access this service, due to numerous bureaucratic obstacles, such as the grace period required, lack of beds available in hospitals, and litigations concerning the diagnosis by the insurance companies.

Our NHS means that all treatment is free at the point of delivery to all citizens regardless. This includes medical, surgical and psychiatric or psychological treatments.

In the Netherlands the health insurance covers most of your costs but asks a patient contribution. There are three levels of treatment depending on severity: 1st level 5 sessions (used to be 8) are covered but the patient has to pay a certain amount. 2nd level unlimited number of sessions, is covered with additional insurance. 3rd level is hospitalisation and is covered. (there is of course a variance per insurance company)

Thank you, all.

@Basem: The distinction made between the two forms of services is very interesting. Thanks for sharing the information.

@Pierpaolo: So insurance can be claimed only for medication? Any information regarding therapy sessions (provided it is evidence-based practice)?

@Mauro: That includes all - psychiatric and psychological services?

@Jose: Thanks for sharing. So law enforcement is the issue in Brazil?

@Lynne: The NHS is a brilliant federal initiative :) Unfortunately, given the population in India, a similar universal initiative would be a feasibility nightmare here.

Here in Belgium a stay in a psychiatric unit is assured by RIZIV. (Institute for illness and invalidity) if you were paying your contributions to the assurance. After one month in a psychiatric hospital you have to pay a small part of the costs by your one.

Not sure if we have parity between physical and mental health reimbursement yet in Australia, but the federal government (Medicare) does cover psychiatric services. Also, under the Better Access to Mental Healthcare initiative, Medicare covers psychological services. i.e., people can receive up to 10 individual, and 10 group sessions each year with a community based psychologist of their choice. If the treatment provider deems it necessary, they can usually petition Medicare for additional sessions.

In Germany mental illness is covered by the health insurance.

In Slovenia a basic (obligatory) health insurance covers both mental and physical diseases.. But for many drugs ther is an additional (relative small) surcharge, which can be regulated with additional insurance (about 30Eur/month).. Hospitalization for mental deseases is included in basic insurance. .

In the US it has been mixed and depends on the insurance coverage an individual has. Many policies do not and many companies that provide coverage provide stringent limits on the number of outpatient visits or the total dollar amount for mental health services in a year and in a lifetim (leaving anyone with a chronic problem out after the intitial period). The Affordable Care Act is supposed to bring greater parity between physical health and mental health services but just how good that will be remains to be seen!

Czech Republic: public insurance cover psychiatric care psychotherapy included, but the network is not sufficient (extarnal limitation), cost of medication may need participation of the patient, always some compound has to be for free, regulation fee 30 CZK = about 1 Euro

In Costa Rica health coverage by the public social service system is universal and it includes all disorders, physical and mental. Nonetheless, it is mostly directed to pharmacotherapy by psychiatrists. Getting an appointment to start or continue psychotherapy is very difficult.

Again, thanks for the responses.

To contributors from the EU: Is there a universal insurance system in place for all countries in the EU, or are laws pertaining to mental health insurance country-specific?

To all contributors: Medicare in your respective countries requires diagnoses according to the ICD? Is there any country where the DSM diagnoses are required to make an insurance claim?

Save for a few responses, I gather that even though insurance requirements may be in place, their implementation is problematic - more so for psychiatric disorders than physical conditions.

In Norway the government provide integrated physical and mental health insurance for all citizens.

No. There is no designated official Mental Health Insurance in my country. Some Private insurance companies do cover mental illness, but others don't.

Yes, in Canada, mental health is an integral part of health and is funded by government run health insurance plans through taxes.

New Zealand: limit of a few hundred dollars on most if not all private health insurance schemes.

Usually the case is like this. If it is public helath insurance (social health insurance) then it will cover both pysical and mental illness, out patient and in patient service. But, if it private insurance, most of them does not cover mental illness (and substance abuse, and cosmetic surgery etc. etc).

In Indonesia, we have both, the public and private insurance.

In Germany, the in-and outpatient treatment (drugs, psychotherapy) of mental disordres is covered by the compulsory health insurance companies. If your monthly income exceed a certain amount of money you can choose to be insured by a private health insurance company. These companies offer a lot of different types of health insurances of which the cheapest ones exclude reimbursement of psychotherapy.

In Spain, the National Healthcare Service (NHS) is financed by

the general taxes levied by the state, and administered by the autonomous

government of each municipality. Office visits and hospital admissions

are completely covered by the NHS, and prescribed

medications are covered completely for retired persons, and partially

for those still employed. Sick leave requires a doctor’s authorization,

and patients unable to work continue to receive most of

their salary.

In Switzerland health insurance provide tretment for physicalilness and mental disorders( Psychiatrice care, ambulatory, psychotherapy and hospital admission).Addictions disorders arealso included in this medical insurance.

No,no always .Since 2005 the Chilean government pass a law that incorporate the treatment for Depresion in adults and the treatment for patients whith the diagnostic of first psychotic episode (schizophrenia) this year affective bipolar dissorder was incorporate . The insurance by law granted access to diagnostic assement and tratmeant,whith an opportunity and quality guaranty explicit and exigible to all pacients.

In Italy psychiatric care is covered but other kind of mental health treatments are quite limited under the National Health Care System .

Norway. Like Canada, in Norway mental health is an integral part of the health care system and is founded by government run health insurance plans through taxes.

Mental health services is availale to every citizen.

Health care and treatment to people suffering from serious mental diseases, like psychoses, have been ruled by law since 1848.

State health insurance in Turkey covers mental illnesses, and even pays for expensive drugs if they are prescribed by psychiatrists or neurologists. The private health insurance does not cover mental health problems yet.

Unfortunately, there is no health insurance system in Cambodia, leave alone mental health insurance, which is not surprising in the background of war and civil conflict.

In Italy treatment of mental illness are on the same basis of treatment of physical illness. Mental health care is an integral part of the health care system.

Thank you all for your replies. Is it a common trend (where mental health insurance exists) that private insurance organisations do not provide mental health insurance even though the public sector does?

Not specific mental health insurance in Australia, although mental illness is covered under both medicare and private health insurance arrangements.

In Brazil, the Federal Government determine the Health legislation and it actions.

The government of states and municipalities promote actions that include all types of healthcare. Unfortunately there is little investment in human, technological and structural resources compared to the amount of individuals who depend on mental health care.

The panorama is slightly better in the private sector, although many health plans create barriers for consultations and hospitalizations.

In India, even dental problems are not covered by medical insurance. Development of uniformity in the medical insurance system in India is a long way. Medical insurance for mental health is a very good consideration and to be opened up. lalitha kabilan

In the UK we have a publicly funded National Health Service. This covers all aspects of physical and mental health. It is paid for via taxation and is free at the point of need for all citizens. However, the NHS sometimes has long waiting lists so some people choice to buy additional health insurance from private companies. Some of these policies do cover mental health but some don't.

In Japan, there is a welfare system, to pay 30% of a regular amount of money.

Particularly, if a disease is different, there is not the difference and is lumped together in a category called the mental disease.

However, it is a welfare system to the last, and there is not this system by the service of the mental health.　For the reason, a healthcare worker is ignorant of such a system.

@Lalitha: That's a very valid point - mental and dental should both be included :)

@Steffi: So all insurance is purely evidence-based? If it is, that's quite an achievement.

Unfortunately, in Armenia mental health insurance doesn't exist.

Thanks for the clarification :)

In Vietnam the health insurance managed by the government cover for patients with psychotic disorders/ schizophrenia and Leprosy, with a condition that they have to be diagnosed by psychiatrists from the public mental health hospitals.

In Germany, health insurance in principle pay for medically indicated analytic psychotherapy, depth-psychology psychotherapy, and behavioral therapy by licensed psychotherapists after a special "application procedure". More information and a guide to psychotherapy in Germany can be found here:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0046247/

Michael, thanks for the link; it's a real help :)

Mental health care is guaranteed by law and provided by all insurances. The extent of the insureance depends of patients choice and financial possibilities.All patients, independent of the care they receive (physical, psychiatrical of both of them), pay a monthly insureance and a yearly fee of 350 euro. The basic insurance polis of each person covers the most psychiatric services. The insurance companies are getting more influence in the use of the medical services by enforcing the care providers (who are financiallty dependent of the insurance company) to accept contracts which are especially guided by the economical factors. .

That's a very interesting answer, thank you Monica :)

There is a fair amount of actuarial literature on behavioral health cost. From an actuarial and insurance standpoint, it may be important to distinguish between long-term severe and persistent mental illness and developmental disability versus more acute conditions.

see www.milliman.com

In Ireland, it is the insurance company that decides what will be covered by health insurance. There is no legislation governing this. Some insurance companies cover limited practices such as depression or psychotherapy with children as long as they have been referred by the General Practitioner (the local community physician). Cover is limited to a small proportion of the fee for a limited number of sessions. Cover is also limited to psychologists.

@Rosaleen, so mental health insurance doesn't cover prescriptions? Or consultations with psychiatrists?

Dear Hansika

In Austria all medical treatment is financed for all people and inhabitants by health insurance.

Stationary psychotherapy is paid by the health insurance too. Outpatient psychotherapy is free for people with low income. The others have to pay mostley about 2/3 of the costs. Consultations of psychiatrists are paid by the health insurance too.

Egon

@Egon: That's really amazing and good to hear :) Thanks for your contribution!

Sorry Hansika, my response was limited to addressing the question of psychological intervention. Health insurance does cover inpatient psychiatric care and consultations with psychologists of other psychotherapists while an inpatient. Consultations with psychiatrists is covered on an out-patient basis - I'm not sure to what extent but it is certainly more substantial that the cover available for seeing a psychologist.

@Rosaleen: Thank you :) It's really nice to know the extent of coverage the world over.