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Learn2Cope Asked May 2021

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

Mother, 90 years old, suffers from generalized anxiety disorder. Has had extra anxiety recently due to her health issues and health issues of one of her other children. She has gastrointestinal issues that are being treated by a doctor, but hard for her to get to appointments, and it is hard to get appointments with her doctor (they have postponed her visits more than once, Nurse Practitioner wants her seeing doctor). She has had anxiety medicine prescribed by family physician, but he is not expert, and it is hard to see him also (Getting appointments and also getting her to appointments - I live out of state, mother resists asking other family members, etc.) Telemedicine seems logical, but where to start?
First, trying to convince her. Second, where to try? Have checked with her Medigap insurance and it does not cover telehealth. (Do not understand why insurance would deny a telehealth visit - it is just making it harder for people to get care that they need, but that is another issue.)
Would appreciate (1) Best place to get help. (2) Tips to get insurance to cover (because I think she would be more amenable to using).

cherokeewaha May 2021
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.

cherokeewaha May 2021
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.

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Stacy0122 May 2021
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?

SavannahTraci May 2021
Following

AlvaDeer May 2021
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.

LakeErie May 2021
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.

Llamalover47 May 2021
Imho, speak to a supervisor at Medigap.

igloo572 May 2021
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.

BarbBrooklyn May 2021
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.
Learn2Cope May 2021
This was Humana. Some of their policies do cover, was told the one Mom has does not. (And I did read that on their website.) Might be worth talking to them again. Or considering next time there is an open enrollment.
irishdaughter11 May 2021
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.

Midkid58 May 2021
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.
Learn2Cope May 2021
Definitely been diagnosed and treated before. Has and has had anxiety medicines. The doctor she had for many years has retired. Starting over with a new doctor - under covid conditions has been difficult. Partly with her/partly with doctor. No one's fault.
AlvaDeer May 2021
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.

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