Does health insurance cover mental health issues?

Why do some people choose to have private insurance for mental health issues?

The reasons why some people choose to have health insurance for mental health issues are deeply personal, but may include: 

Fast access to counselling or therapy, or other treatment

Having to wait for therapy or other treatment can increase distress.¹ Private health insurance can provide quick access to therapy and treatment. 

Choice of specialist, counsellor or therapist

With private health insurance, you can often choose a specialist (such as a psychiatrist), counsellor or therapist. However, depending on how your plan is set up, there may be rules about who you can see.

Flexibility on time and place of appointments

Private health insurance can give you flexibility about when and where your appointment or treatment is, so you can fit appointments in around your work or family.

Access to services without a GP referral

With some health insurers, you may be able to access counselling without seeing a GP first. With others, you’ll need to speak to a GP and ask them to refer you.

Facilities

If you need inpatient care, you’ll usually be able to have it in a private hospital. Depending on how your plan is set up, there may be rules about which hospitals or specialists you can use. 

¹https://www.cqc.org.uk/publications/surveys/community-mental-health-survey

What may not be included in mental health cover?

Pre-existing conditions

Health insurance is designed to cover new conditions, so conditions you’re already aware of when your health insurance starts – whether you’ve seen a doctor or counsellor or not – may not be covered straightaway.

That doesn’t always mean you’ll never be covered for the mental health condition. Often, if you have a set number of years – often two years – without any trouble from the condition after you join, your insurance will start to cover the condition. 

You’ll be able to find out how your plan covers pre-existing mental health conditions when you get a quote.

Chronic conditions

Most health insurers won’t cover long-term treatment of chronic conditions. These are conditions that need long-term treatment or monitoring, have no known cure, or are likely to come back. 

You’ve reached the limit for what’s covered

There may be limits on what your health insurance covers. For example, there may be limits on the number of counselling sessions or outpatient consultations you can have.

Anything else your health insurer tells you they don’t cover

You’ll find details of these in your plan’s handbook or other documents. 

Can I add mental health cover for my family members?

You can usually add family members to your health insurance, giving you the added peace of mind of knowing they can also access care quickly. However, some health insurers will only allow you to add this cover for children over a particular age – for AXA Health plan, that’s age 8.

With the AXA Health Plan, you can tailor what each family member is covered for, so you only pay for mental health cover for the family members who need it. You can add cover for any family member – they don’t even need to live with you. So if you have a child at college, you can ensure they can access mental healthcare quickly if they need it. Our AXA Health Plan, like most health insurance, only covers new conditions that begin after someone joins (so you’ll need to answer a few questions to check your family member can add the mental health cover).