Medicare Coverage for Anxiety Counseling

Yes, Medicare does cover therapy for anxiety if you’ve been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, as long as the counseling is provided by a qualified mental health professional who accepts Medicare. 

Navigating your health insurance coverage can be stressful and confusing. We are here to break this all down for you in simple terms, so that you can more easily get the care and support you need.

Key takeaways

• Anxiety management and counseling for seniors is covered under Medicare Part B.
• Medicare coverage for mental health services includes telehealth, so you have the option to receive anxiety counseling from home, over video or phone calls.
• There isn't a specific number of sessions covered, but your provider may need to submit documentation that sessions continue to be medically necessary.

Why Medicare coverage for anxiety is important for seniors

If you or a loved one is experiencing anxiety, you are far from alone. About 28% of seniors experience symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety symptoms can include:

• Racing, scary thoughts
• Fear of losing control
• Trouble sleeping
• Increased heart rate
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pressure and tightness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Gastrointestinal upset, including nausea or stomach cramps

Anxiety symptoms can be emotional, mental, and also physical, but it’s important to rule out any medical causes of your symptoms, especially as you age. Symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pressure, and racing heart beats should be reported to your physician right away.

Some older adults with anxiety symptoms develop anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, or social anxiety disorder. Anxiety can be very disruptive and can make it challenging to function in your everyday life. That’s why getting the support you need to manage your anxiety symptoms is so essential. 

What kinds of mental health services are covered for anxiety?

Medicare Part B covers outpatient services for seniors. These are services that happen outside a hospital, such as at a doctor’s office, therapist’s office, or clinic. Mental health services are included under Part B outpatient benefits.

Treatment options

You have several options when it comes to therapy for anxiety, and Medicare covers:

• Individual therapy, or “talk therapy”
• Family counseling (when the patient being treated is you)
• Psychiatric evaluations
• Medication management
• Diagnostic testing
• Safety planning interventions

Eligible providers

There are many different types of mental health providers who treat people with anxiety. Provider types covered by Medicare Part B include:

• Psychiatrics and Doctors (MD, DOs)
• Clinical psychologists (PhDs, PsyDs)
• Clinical social workers
• Clinical nurse specialists
• Nurse practitioners
• Physician assistants
• Marriage and family therapists (MFTs, MHCs)
• Mental health counselors

Covered types of therapy for anxiety

Medicare doesn’t specify what type of therapy the specialist must provide. Your therapist has flexibility in terms of what type of therapy approaches to use as part of your treatment plan. Generally, the main types of therapy used for anxiety include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. But other therapy modalities can be helpful for anxiety, too.

Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand, and Medicare also covers therapy for depression.

Telehealth

During the pandemic, regulations were put into place that allowed Medicare recipients to get therapy at home, via telehealth. Since then, telehealth coverage has been permanently established. Telehealth services include video calls or audio-only calls. 

Out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-approved anxiety treatments

Although therapy for anxiety is covered by Medicare, there may be some out-of-pocket expenses you are expected to pay. Here’s what to know about how the financial aspects of Medicare coverage works. 

Medicare deductible and copay

Medicare will start to cover your anxiety therapy sessions after you’ve met your yearly deductible. As of 2026, the annual deductible for Medicare Part B is $283. Once you’ve met your deductible, your copay is 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for each therapy session. 

Sailor Health partners with Medicare to keep costs as low as possible for patients, and most people pay little or nothing out of pocket for mental health services from our providers.

Eligibility requirements

Fortunately, you don’t have to have a medical diagnosis or pre-approval from a physician to begin therapy for your anxiety symptoms. However, the therapist you use has to be a Medicare Part B provider and they must accept Medicare assignment. This means they agree to be paid the amount that Medicare is willing to pay, and they can’t charge you any extra fees.

Medicare Advantage plans

Some people have Medicare Part C plans, which are Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Advantage also covers outpatient therapy sessions. Sometimes the out-of-pocket expenses are lower when you use Medicare Advantage. But each plan is different. That’s why it’s best to check your plan for coverage details.

Medigap

Medigap, which is private, supplemental insurance for original Medicare, may also cover some mental health services. You will need to contact your plan for more specific information.

Finding a therapist who takes Medicare

Once you understand your Medicare counseling coverage, the next step is finding a participating provider who accepts Medicare. This can be challenging at times, because not all therapists take Medicare, and sometimes therapists have long waitlists because of high demand.

Here are some tips to make the search easier. 

Where to start looking? 

There are several different ways you can look into Medicare therapists for anxiety:

• Ask your healthcare provider for a referral
• Call your Medicare insurance plan and ask for a list of covered mental health providers
• Search the online Medicare provider directory 
• Ask friends and family members for recommended providers, making sure to specify that they must take Medicare 
• Use Sailor Health’s provider list to search by state and specialty 

Not only do all of our providers accept Medicare, they’re all available via telehealth. This makes anxiety therapy more accessible for seniors with mobility issues or health conditions that make it difficult to travel.

Why choose Sailor Health?

Sailor Health provides mental health services designed specifically for seniors. Our older, experienced therapists are trained in geriatric therapy and tailor their services to your specific life circumstances and needs. What’s more, therapy is covered by Medicare, and most of our Medicare patients have a $0 copay. Sailor Health therapy takes place over Zoom or by phone, and you can get matched to a provider and begin therapy in as little as 24 hours.

To learn more about Sailor Health and get matched to a Medicare-covered therapist, get started today.

Medicare and anxiety treatment FAQ 

If you have other questions about using your Medicare benefits for anxiety treatment, our team is here to help.

How many sessions are covered?

Medicare doesn’t specify how many therapy sessions will be covered. They may ask your provider to share medical documentation that warrants continued coverage. This can include mental health diagnoses and other documentation.

Does Medicare cover psychiatric care for anxiety?

Yes, Medicare covers psychiatry sessions for anxiety. Psychiatrists can also prescribe prescription anti-anxiety medication if necessary. 

Does Medicare cover anti-anxiety medication?

Medication for anxiety is covered under Medicare Part D. Antidepressants—often used to treat anxiety—are also covered. Some fast-acting anxiety medications are also covered. Each plan is different, so it’s important to check your Medicare Part D plan for more information. 

Does Medicare cover acupuncture for anxiety?

No. While Medicare Part B does cover acupuncture, it’s only for lower back pain, not for any mental health conditions.

References

1. Mental health care (outpatient). (n.d.-c). Medicare. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/mental-health-care-outpatient 
2. Shafiee, A., Mohammadi, I., Rajai, S., Jafarabady, K., & Abdollahi, A. (2024). Global prevalence of anxiety symptoms and its associated factors in older adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Journal of General and Family Medicine, 26(2), 116–127. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgf2.750 
3. Chand, S. P., & Marwaha, R. (2023, April 24). Anxiety. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470361/ 
4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2005). Medicare & your mental health benefits (CMS Pub. No. 10184). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10184-medicare-and-your-mental-health-benefits.pdf (medicare.gov)
5. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2025, April). Medicare & Mental Health Coverage (MLN Booklet No. MLN1986542). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/mln1986542-medicare-mental-health-coverage.pdf
6. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare costs. Retrieved December 3, 2025, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs
7. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Telehealth – Medicare. Retrieved December 3, 2025, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/telehealth‍
8. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Acupuncture — Medicare coverage. Retrieved December 3, 2025, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/acupuncture