All Posts in "The Senior Scene"

SAVYY SENIOR

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

What types of mental health services does Medicare cover? I struggle with anxiety and depression, and my primary care provider recommended I see a therapist or psychiatrist.

Anxious Annie

Dear Annie,

Medicare actually covers both outpatient and inpatient mental health care services and programs to help beneficiaries with anxiety, depression and many other mental health needs. Here what you should know.

Outpatient Coverage

If you’re enrolled in original Medicare, your Part B coverage will pay 80 percent (after you’ve met your annual $257 Part B deductible) for a variety of counseling and mental health care services that are provided outside a hospital, such as in a doctor or therapist’s office, hospital outpatient department or community health center. These services can also be received via telehealth.

You, or your Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy, is responsible for the remaining 20 percent coinsurance. 

Medicare also gives you the expanded option of getting treatment through a variety of health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical nurse specialists, clinical social workers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors.

To get this coverage, you’ll need to choose a participating provider that accepts Medicare assignment, which means they accept Medicare’s approved amount as full payment for a service.

If you choose a nonparticipating provider who accepts Medicare but does not agree to Medicare’s payment rate, you may have to pay more. And if you choose an opt-out provider that does not accept Medicare payments at all, you will be responsible for the entire cost.

To locate a mental health care professional in your area that accepts Medicare, go to Medicare.gov/care-compare, click on “doctors & clinicians” and type in your location, followed by “clinical psychologist” or “psychiatry” in the Name & Keyword box. You can also get this information by calling Medicare at 800-633-4227.

Inpatient Coverage

If you happen to need mental health services in either a general or psychiatric hospital, original Medicare Part A covers this too, after you’ve met your $1,676 Part A deductible. Your doctor should determine which hospital setting you need. If you receive care in a psychiatric hospital, Medicare covers up to 190 days of inpatient care for your lifetime. And if you use your lifetime days but need additional care, Medicare may cover additional inpatient care at a general hospital.

Additional Coverage

In addition to the outpatient and inpatient mental health services, Medicare also covers yearly depression screenings that must be done in a primary care doctor’s office or clinic. Annual depression screenings are covered 100 percent.

And if you have a Medicare prescription drug plan, most medications used to treat mental health conditions are covered too.

Medicare Advantage Coverage

If you get your Medicare benefits through a private Medicare Advantage plan, they too provide the same coverage as original Medicare does, but may impose different rules and will likely require you to see an in-network provider. You’ll need to contact your plan directly for details.

For more information, call Medicare at 800-633-4227 and request a copy of publication #10184 “Medicare & Your Mental Health Benefits,” or you can read it online at Medicare.gov.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

The Senior Scene by — May 21, 2025 in Health & Fitness

Steilacoom property owners will pay higher utility fees in 2025 after the Town Council approved a 2 percent increase in the tax on water, sewer, storm, and solid-waste services.

The increase is necessary to provide adequate utility service and for improvements to the systems, according to Mayor Dick Muri, who proposed the higher tax.

On another budget matter, Muri has recommended that the town create a $20 vehicle licensing fee starting in 2026, which he said would generate about $120,000 a year to help maintain Steilacoom’s streets.

The Senior Scene by — May 21, 2025 in News
Toll scams target Good to Go drivers

State officials are advising holders of Good To Go bridge and highway toll accounts to be aware of scammers who are impersonating toll agencies nationwide and trying to trick people into making payments and sharing personal banking information.

Officials of Good To Go, Washington’s toll accounts program administered by the state Department of Transportation (DOT), said they’re aware of fraudulent text messages claiming to be from Good To Go and linking to a “convincing” but fake website mirroring the official one for payments. Good To Go never sends texts asking for payment, a spokeswoman said.

The scammers sometimes will use due dates for payments in an attempt to make people act quickly. DOT officials said people who suspect they’ve received a scam text shouldn’t click on any of the accompanying links. Instead, they should log into their Good to Go account, where any actual information about a toll bill can be viewed. Officials noted Good to Go never asks customers to pay on websites other than its own.

Additional information is available at wsdot.wa.gov

Drivers with a Good to Go Pass save $2 on each toll charge. Tolls are automatically deducted from drivers’ accounts.

The Senior Scene by — May 13, 2025 in Personal Finance/Consumers
Active seniors planning to buy new homes

A sulrvey completed in January revealed what potential homebuyers over the age of 55 might be looking the rest of this year and beyond.

55places.com, an online resource for active-adult community information, released the findings of its 2025 55+ Housing Survey, which took the homebuying pulses of 1,292 people. A spokesman said the results revealed that many active adults are more determined than ever to make the most of their lives, which is influencing their housing choices. Most indicated they are planning to make a move within the next few years, with 52 percent intending to buy a new home within the next 12 months. Here are the survey highlights:

  • The rise of community. 53 percent of respondents cited their desire to live in a 55-plus community as the top reason for their move, followed closely by the desire for a new location (51 percent).
  • Age-restricted communities are gaining popularity. Thirty-eight percent of respondents prefer them, a significant increase compared to previous surveys.
  • Sixty-four percent of respondents expressed interest in health and fitness groups within communities, underlining the importance of wellness for active adults.
  • Economic confidence. Despite concerns over current economic conditions, 48 percent of respondents feel the economy hasn’t impacted their attitude toward purchasing a home.
  • Long-distance moves are okay, with 69 percent of respondents considering or planning to move to a new state. Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina remain top destinations for retirees.

Some of the largest communities are in Florida and Arizona.

“Active adults are more focused than ever on finding a home that suits their lifestyle,” said Bill Ness, chief executive officer of 55places.com. He previously worked as a sales leader for an active-adult community.

“From the desire to be part of a vibrant community to prioritizing health and fitness, the 55-plus demographic is making deliberate, informed decisions about their next move,” Ness said.

The Senior Scene by — May 13, 2025 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures