{"id":11464,"date":"2025-04-07T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=11464"},"modified":"2025-04-10T16:59:34","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T16:59:34","slug":"mental-health-coverage-ca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/health-insurance\/mental-health-coverage-ca\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Health Coverage in California Health Insurance Plans\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you want to take care of your emotional well-being, having an insurance plan that covers mental health services can make a huge difference. If you\u2019re interested in therapy, counseling, or behavioral support, you\u2019re probably wondering what kind of mental health coverage in California is right for you. This guide breaks down the mental health support available in California, what kinds of benefits to look for, and how to find a health insurance plan<\/a> that works with your budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unraveling California\u2019s Mental Health Coverage<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is therapy covered by health insurance? And is mental health covered in California? It depends, but many plans do include therapy and counseling. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all insurance plans on the federal and state healthcare marketplaces are required to cover basic behavioral and psychological treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, supplementary and short-term policy care plans<\/a> that aren\u2019t restricted by the ACA may not offer therapy. If you want a plan that will definitely cover mental and behavioral care, state and federal plans are the best place to start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t get your insurance through an employer or a non-ACA provider, you have two main options for coverage: Covered California<\/a> and Medi-Cal<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demystifying Covered California Plans<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Covered California is the name for California\u2019s state-managed insurance marketplace. All of these plans have to include certain essential benefits \u2014 luckily, that includes mental support. The ACA stipulates that marketplace plans need to offer coverage for psychological wellness, substance use disorder, and behavioral health support. Additionally, plans also need to cover preventative and wellness services, which can include some basic counseling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medi-Cal\u2019s Role in Mental Health Care<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Medi-Cal is California\u2019s Medicaid program, which means it offers insurance for low-income individuals. Medi-Cal plans include plenty of options for behavioral and psychological support, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n