Payment Assistance:

If you need help paying for your mental health care, you can receive assistance to pay for medical-related bills or render services for little to no cost. Various government and non-profit programs provide payment assistance that help pay for healthcare. Some types include: ATR voucher, charity care programs, federal or any government funding for substance abuse programs, grants from nonprofit and government agencies, IHS/Tribal/Urban (ITU) funds, local assistance programs, state welfare or child and family services funds, and U.S Department of VA funds. There are also some cases where no payment is needed.

Qualification for payment assistance is often based on income and need according to the Federal Poverty Guideline. Payment assistance is for people who do not have insurance or who have insurance that does not cover their mental health care needs.

A provider that has a sliding scale offers a flexible fee system that varies with income. The lower your income, the lower the fee you have to pay for your session. The amount you pay should not be reflected on the quality of care you receive and the time you have with the provider. Most of the time, providers don’t even know how much you pay because their office personnel handles it separately.

Services for which no payment is needed are typically available from non-profits or charitable organizations that have providers who donate their time and see clients/patients for no cost. Many colleges or universities offer services to students through a Counseling Center or Health Center that are covered by the fees they have already paid to the university. Additionally, there are free mental health apps that can serve as tools for therapy.