Does Medicare Cover Depression and Anxiety?
- Last updated
- October 11, 2026
- Read time
- 6 min
Key points
- Almost 1 in 5 adults 65 and older (18.4%) had symptoms of depression in 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says.
- One depression screening a year costs you nothing in 2026 if your provider accepts Medicare's rate.
- Since July 5, 2026, Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) helps with depression and anxiety, and most groups charge $0 to $7 a month.
- In 2026, the most you pay in a year for covered drugs, antidepressants included, is $2,100.
If you're thinking about suicide, or worried about someone who is, call or text 988 at any hour. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is free and private. If someone is in danger right now, call 911.
Medicare pays for depression and anxiety care at your doctor's office, with a therapist and in the hospital. Your drug plan must cover most antidepressants. You usually pay 20% after the yearly deductible. If you've felt low or on edge for weeks and keep hoping it will pass, start with your doctor.
Medicare pays for this care if
- You have Part B, the part of Medicare that pays for doctor visits.
- Your doctor, therapist or counselor is enrolled in Medicare.
- The care is to find or treat a mental health condition, like depression or anxiety.
Not sure Medicare will pay? Ask anyway, because your doctor's office can check before your visit. Or a Pair Team advocate can check with you.
What Medicare pays for (2026)
| Service | Who it is for | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Depression screening | Anyone with Part B, once a year at a primary care office | Nothing if your provider accepts Medicare's rate |
| "Welcome to Medicare" and yearly wellness visits | Anyone with Part B. The first visit checks your risk for depression, and at the yearly visit you can talk about changes in your mood | Nothing if your provider accepts Medicare's rate |
| Mental health care at your doctor's office (behavioral health integration) | Depression, anxiety or another mental health condition, with a signed agreement | 20% of a monthly charge after the $283 deductible |
| Therapy and counseling | Psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors and others enrolled in Medicare | 20% after the deductible |
| Psychiatric evaluation and medicine checks | Anyone whose provider orders them | 20% after the deductible |
| Day programs (intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization) | People who need more than one visit a week | A share of each service, plus a daily amount at the facility |
| Psychiatric hospital stay | Care around the clock | The $1,736 hospital deductible. Up to 190 days in a psychiatric hospital in your lifetime |
| Drug coverage (Part D) | Anyone with a Medicare drug plan | No more than $2,100 a year for covered drugs |
| ACCESS | Original Medicare, with depression or anxiety | Most groups charge $0 to $7 a month |
What kind of help fits how you feel?
The help that fits depends on how strong your feelings are and how long they've lasted. When worry or low mood comes and goes, start with your doctor. Some offices have a care team that checks on your mood between visits, Medicare.gov says.
When it lasts for weeks and gets in the way of sleep or seeing people, ask about talk therapy, medicine or both. To find a therapist, see therapy and counseling. If weekly visits aren't enough, a day program gives you hours of care and you still sleep at home.
If you ever feel unsafe, call or text 988. Medicare also pays for a safety plan if you're at risk of suicide. After a crisis visit to the emergency room, it pays for a call to check on you.
What will depression and anxiety medicines cost?
Your drug plan must cover most antidepressants, since they're a protected group of drugs, Medicare.gov says. Check that your plan covers the one you take. In 2026, the most you pay for covered drugs is $2,100, and in 2027 it's $2,400. If money is tight, Extra Help caps your copays at $5.10 for generics and $12.65 for brand-name drugs in 2026.
What is ACCESS, and can I use it for depression?
ACCESS is a new option in Original Medicare for long-term health problems, and depression and anxiety are on its list. Groups Medicare approves offer help at home, like apps, video visits and help with medicines. You can sign up yourself and keep your own doctors. Most groups charge $0 to $7 a month, Medicare.gov says, and $13 at most if one group helps with several conditions. It isn't open in Medicare Advantage, but plans may offer something like it.
What if I have other health problems too?
Depression can come with other illness, like heart disease, the National Institute on Aging says. See our pages on long-term pain, heart disease and diabetes.
If your yearly wellness visit finds signs of memory loss, Medicare pays for a second visit. That visit also checks for depression and anxiety. See dementia care. If drinking has become a way to cope, see alcohol and drug treatment. If you're alone more than you'd like, see loneliness.
What to do next
- Ask for your yearly depression screening at your next primary care visit or yearly wellness visit.
- Tell your doctor how long you've felt this way, and ask if the office offers mental health care on site.
- Find a therapist who takes Medicare if you'd like to talk with someone.
- Check your drug plan during Open Enrollment, each fall from October 15 to December 7, so your medicine is still covered. Plan changes start January 1.
- Save 988 in your phone, for yourself or someone you love.
If you also have Medicaid
If you have both, Medicaid may pay your 20% for therapy. You also get Extra Help with drug costs on its own. In California and New York, it may cover mental health care Medicare doesn't. See Medicare and Medicaid together and the rules in California and New York.
What a Pair Team advocate does
Low mood or worry is often tied up with money stress, pain or time alone. This is what we do:
- Talk with you by phone or video, and do a short mood check that we share with your care team.
- Find a therapist or psychiatrist who takes Medicare, and book the first visit.
- Help you keep track of medicines and refills, and check your drug plan's costs.
- Help with what usually comes with it: rides, food, bills and housing.
An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify. It takes two minutes to find out.
Check if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate
Frequently asked questions
Is depression a normal part of getting older?
Depression is common in older adults, but it is not a normal part of aging, the National Institute on Aging says. Counseling and medicine can help, so talk with your doctor if low mood lasts more than a few weeks.
Who can I call if I'm in crisis?
If you're in crisis, you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or chat at 988lifeline.org. It's open 24 hours a day, every day, and it's free and private. If someone is in danger right now, call 911.
Does Medicare pay for mental health visits from home?
Yes, Medicare pays for mental health visits from home by video, or by phone if video doesn't work for you. You don't need to see your provider in person first through December 31, 2027, the federal health department says. See telehealth for other video visits.
I care for my husband and feel worn out. Can Medicare help me?
Medicare can help you as a caregiver if you have Medicare yourself, since your own screening and counseling are covered. Caring for someone can wear you down, so tell your doctor. For breaks and other help, see caregivers.
Does a Medicare Advantage plan cover the same care?
A Medicare Advantage plan covers the same mental health care as Original Medicare, but your costs and providers depend on the plan. Call the plan and ask which therapists it works with and what you'll pay.
Sources
- Depression screening, Medicare.gov
- Mental health care (outpatient), Medicare.gov
- Behavioral health integration services, Medicare.gov
- Mental health care (inpatient), Medicare.gov
- Yearly "Wellness" visits, Medicare.gov
- "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit, Medicare.gov
- What do drug plans cover?, Medicare.gov
- Support for chronic health conditions (ACCESS), Medicare.gov
- ACCESS Model, CMS
- Telehealth policy updates, Telehealth.HHS.gov
- 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS
- Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs, SSA
- Symptoms of Depression Among Adults: United States, 2019, CDC
- Depression and Older Adults, National Institute on Aging
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
About the author
Adriana Bugarin
Behavioral Health Specialist
Adriana Bugarin is a behavioral health specialist at Pair Team. Since 2022, she has helped patients with mental health and substance use care.
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