Universal health care is one of the top priorities for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Under the terms of his plan, all Americans would be eligible for low-cost insurance plans that provide comprehensive coverage for both treatment and prevention of illness.
Whether you agree with the idea of universal health care or not, there is little doubt that obtaining mental health treatment can be difficult under many of today’s most popular insurance plans. Even worse, many Americans have no insurance at all. Nonetheless, there is help. Provided here is an overview of possible options for treating your phobia within the limits of your insurance and personal budget.
Brief Therapy
Many health insurance plans cover three mental health visits per plan member per year. Although this does not sound like a lot, many brief therapies are psychoeducational in nature, designed to help you learn the skills necessary to manage your phobia on your own. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is currently one of the most popular brief therapy options for phobias.
Prescription from Your Family Doctor
According to the medical model, phobias are primarily rooted in brain chemistry irregularities. Although a combination of medication and therapy is often recommended, many sufferers find relief solely through medication. If you are unable to visit a mental health professional, describe your phobia to your family doctor. He or she may be able to prescribe helpful medication.
Community Mental Health Center
Although not as common as they once were, community mental health centers can be found in many cities and towns. These centers are generally designed to treat those with little or no insurance, and may charge fees on a sliding scale. This means that clients are charged according to their ability to pay.
Seminars
If your phobia is extremely common, such as a fear of flying, you may be able to find a reasonably priced seminar. Usually sponsored by local psychologists or community mental health centers, seminars are a form of group therapy that focuses on a single phobia. Techniques are often based in cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Before signing up for a seminar, be sure to investigate the credentials of the sponsoring individual or group. Although many excellent seminars exist, there are scam artists in every field. Make sure that a licensed and reputable mental health professional is in charge.
The modern trend among insurance companies has been to move away from paying for mental health treatment, although some government legislation has tried to improve that. There are numerous treatment options for those who have little or no mental health insurance. Do not let concerns over your ability to pay prevent you from seeking the phobia treatment that you need.
Source:United States Department of Health and Human Services: National Mental Health Information Center. How to Pay for Mental Health Services. May 27, 2008. http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ken98-0050/default.asp
