Has anyone used telehealth for psychiatrist/anxiety issues? Did Medicare cover?

My husband has to see a psychiatrist now to help keep him calm and due to Covid, he is having telehealth meetings. I'll be glad when he can go back in person because he lies to the therapist about how he is doing. They could tell by his body language before when he was not stating true facts. We have a medicare supplement plan and our co-pay is the same for telehealth as in person visits. Luckily it does cover him. I have to answer the phone when they call, pay using a credit card then they have his dr. call back in about 20 minutes and he answers. Works ok for now.

My husband has to see a psychiatrist now to help keep him calm and due to Covid, he is having telehealth meetings. I'll be glad when he can go back in person because he lies to the therapist about how he is doing. They could tell by his body language before when he was not stating true facts. We have a medicare supplement plan and our co-pay is the same for telehealth as in person visits. Luckily it does cover him. I have to answer the phone when they call, pay using a credit card then they have his dr. call back in about 20 minutes and he answers. Works ok for now.

No, but I did deal with Tele-med wound care. Insurance denied supplies due to not physically seeing pt. during mandatory state shutdown, the pics were not good enough. Does telehealth do scripts?

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You will have differing coverages with all supplemental insurance. Some now are done with online zoom meetings simply because of covid-19 concerns, and I think this will be more the way in the future, but for now a referral from her MD will help expedite and will help you know which services are covered for this, and through which companies.

I see a therapist weekly and it is covered 100% by Medicare advantage plan. I started seeing her during the quarantine so I have never done otherwise! It has been easy and just as effective as being in person plus I don’t have to worry about wasting time driving and sitting and waiting blah blah. I’m not sure how a 90-year-old would like it though.

Imho, speak to a supervisor at Medigap.

For TeleMed stuff, I’ve know of 2 who used BetterHealth. Both are young and tech savvy. Runs abt $150-$185 for a session and there’s a questionnaire as to your overall vibe to match u up w a therapist. Some are Ph.D and some MSW or other graduate degree licensed behavioral therapists.

On insurance, perhaps it’s this?…… what has been an unexpected issue due to Telemed bc of Covid, is that a provider is not licensed for your state OR if you’re on an Advantage plan they require only services from their limited group (& none on TelMed) so the insurance claim gets denied. We have it happen where I am in New Orleans as lots of folks live x state line in MS or stayed there back when Covid raging last year to do work-from-home, but all their docs r in NOLA. Never an issue before as it was in person visit, labs run, etc. But for TeleMed it is. Also can become a prob for RXs as the doctor doesn’t have a MS drug registry #. If your on MedCo / Express Scripts the 90 day RX by mail is ok. But to get RX filled at local pharmacy becomes problematic and atop that for the behavioral drugs those often get tried out for short period to see how effective and these often need to be filled more at a local pharmacy.

I see a therapist each week on telehealth and it is covered by my Medicare Supplement.

Who did you speak to at the Medigap company ? I would bump this up to a supervisor.

I talk to my psychologist on the phone and like it better than being in his office where I used to get nervous talking about myself.
Medicare covers it.
He offered to do Facetime, etc. but this way I don't have to get "fixed up" and can just relax in my robe or whatever and chat away.

Personally, at age 64, I find telehealth visits very unsatisfying and have only availed myself of ONE therapy session. There was something SO disconnected in trying to talk to my therapist on a virtual call.

SAme with the Dr and psych doc, but they know me vey well and it went ok. Not great, just OK.

She probably should have someone with her when she does these calls, they can be tricky. Gently reminders as to WHY she's called, etc.

I don't know how well anxiety can be dxed over a teleconference--esp if she has not been dxed as such before.

As far as Medicare, since there still are not options for in person calls still in a lot of areas--I would think they'd be covered. But DO check first.

You should check with your Mom's doctor who will then clear what will be covered and make recommends that fall within the rules of her supplemental and her medicare. Best bet is to start at your Mom's doctors office.