Mental health insurance

Key takeaways

• Health insurance can cover mental health, but many insurers sell this cover as an additional add-ons to standard policies

• Mental health insurance can help fund treatments and recovery costs

• Private mental health insurance offers faster access to specialists and treatments compared to the NHS

Does private health insurance cover mental health?

It depends on your policy. Health insurance can vary a lot regarding mental health cover. Many providers will not cover mental health or psychiatric care in their standard policies and require you to purchase additional, sometimes costly, add-ons.

It's important that you review your policy documents and compare options to ensure your insurance has the right protection for your needs.

Do I need mental health insurance?

Mental health issues are very common, with the NHS reporting that one-in-four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to access help, and many individuals find themselves waiting months, or even years, for treatment.

In response, health insurance policies have increasingly begun to include mental health cover, offering treatments and services that support recovery.

Is the NHS or private healthcare better at treating mental health?

While the NHS provides comprehensive mental health care, there can be very long waiting times for treatment. Private health insurance can offer much faster access to specialists once a patient has been referred by a GP.

Getting this quicker access to mental health treatment can often prevent conditions from worsening and help individuals return to their daily lives more quickly.

Which mental health conditions are covered by health insurance?

Health insurance policies that cover mental health will typically include conditions such as:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Bipolar disorder

• Eating disorders

• OCD

• Phobias

• PTSD

• Postnatal depression

• Substance misuse

Which mental health conditions are not covered by health insurance?

Some chronic conditions like dementia that do not have a definitive cure are often not covered by health insurance. Behavioural and developmental conditions may also be excluded from cover.

However, related conditions such as stress and anxiety might be included, offering some level of support.

Are there any limits on mental health cover?

Yes, insurers may impose limits on mental health cover, such as a cap on the number of therapy sessions you can claim for or a maximum cover amount.

Generally, higher premiums correlate with more extensive cover. Insurers may also offer additional benefits like helplines and support teams.

Health insurance will also usually only cover illnesses that start after the policy was taken out.

How do I buy mental health insurance?

You can get a health insurance quote with MoneySuperMarket.

We make it easy for you to compare deals from leading providers and choose the best option to suit your personal circumstances.