Yes, Medicare now covers marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors. For a long time, a person on Medicare calling around for a therapist could hear the same no again and again, until the rules changed. Since January 1, 2024, these two kinds of providers can bill Medicare directly, which means the pool of therapists who can take it got a lot bigger.

In This Guide

Does Medicare Cover Marriage and Family Therapists and Counselors?

The short answer? Yes. As of January 1, 2024, marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors are recognized Medicare providers, which means they can enroll in Medicare and bill Part B on their own for diagnosing and treating mental illness. Before that date, they couldn't do either.

That matters because MFTs and MHCs are among the licensed providers people commonly see for talk therapy, couples and family counseling, and help with things like anxiety, depression, and grief. If your search for a Medicare therapist used to dead-end, this is the change that opened the door.

So if you're on Medicare and you want to see one of these therapists, you no longer have to pay entirely out of pocket or track down one of the narrower provider types Medicare used to recognize. You can look for an MFT or MHC who takes Medicare, the same way you'd look for any other provider.

What Changed on January 1, 2024

Here's what actually flipped. Before 2024, a marriage and family therapist or a mental health counselor couldn't enroll in Medicare or bill it directly. A Medicare patient who wanted to see one was mostly on their own for the cost. Since January 1, 2024, MFTs and MHCs can enroll in Medicare and bill Part B themselves for the mental health services they provide.

That's a real access win. Adding these two provider types widened the roster of therapists a beneficiary can choose from, and it made it easier to keep seeing a therapist you already trust after you age into Medicare.

There's a payment piece worth knowing, because it shapes who's willing to take Medicare. Medicare pays MFTs and MHCs 75% of what it pays a clinical psychologist for the same service. That rate is why some therapists weigh whether to enroll, so it's still smart to confirm a given provider accepts Medicare before you book.

What Medicare Covers When You See a Marriage and Family Therapist

Now the money side. Medicare Part B covers your outpatient visits with an MFT or MHC. After you meet the annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for each visit, and Medicare picks up the rest.,

That deductible is annual and shared across all your Part B care, not just therapy. So if you've already met it this year paying for other visits or tests, it won't apply again to your counseling sessions, and you'd just owe the 20%.

Your out-of-pocket share can look different depending on how you get your Medicare. If you carry a Medigap policy, or you're on a Medicare Advantage plan instead of Original Medicare, the cost-sharing and the provider network work differently, so check how your specific plan handles these visits. For the full picture of the outpatient benefit, see our guide to Medicare mental health coverage.

Who Else Medicare Already Covered

MFTs and MHCs didn't replace anyone. They got added to a list that already existed. Medicare Part B covered visits with several other behavioral-health providers before 2024, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and clinical social workers. The 2024 change simply widened it.

One more group is easy to miss. Addiction counselors and alcohol and drug counselors who meet all the same requirements as a mental health counselor can enroll in Medicare as MHCs. So if you or a family member is looking for substance-use counseling, the right provider may now be able to bill Medicare directly too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a special copay for therapy under Medicare?

No. A visit with an MFT or MHC is billed like any other outpatient Part B service, so there's no separate therapy fee. In practice, once you've already met your Part B deductible for the year, a covered session costs you the 20% coinsurance and nothing more., A Medigap policy or a Medicare Advantage plan can change that share, so check yours.

How do I know if a mental health counselor takes Medicare?

Being a recognized provider type since January 1, 2024, lets an MHC enroll in Medicare, but it doesn't require them to, and coverage only applies when the individual counselor is actually enrolled and accepts you as a Medicare patient. Ask the office directly whether the provider bills Medicare before you book, since the 75%-of-psychologist pay rate leads some to opt out.

Can addiction or drug and alcohol counselors bill Medicare?

Yes, if they qualify. Substance-use counseling falls under the same MHC benefit: addiction counselors and alcohol and drug counselors who meet all the applicable mental health counselor requirements can enroll as MHCs and bill Medicare directly. As with any MHC, confirm the individual provider is enrolled before your first appointment.

What did people on Medicare do before 2024?

Because MFTs and MHCs couldn't enroll or bill Medicare independently until January 1, 2024, a beneficiary who wanted to see one usually paid the full cost out of pocket or switched to a narrower provider type Medicare already recognized, like a clinical psychologist or clinical social worker. The 2024 change is what removed that trade-off.

Learn More

MedicareHow Medicare Covers Outpatient Mental HealthMedicare covers therapy, psychiatric care, and partial hospitalization. Here's what Parts A, B, and Advantage pay for mental health in 2026, and what you owe. MedicareDoes Medicare Cover Telehealth and Online Therapy?How Medicare telehealth coverage works in 2026: permanent behavioral health rules, general-care flexibilities through Dec. 31, 2027, and what you pay. MedicareWhat Medicare Actually Costs in 2026How much does Medicare cost in 2026? Part A, B, C, and D premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance, plus IRMAA and ways to lower your Medicare costs.

Find personalized help figuring out which Medicare therapists you can see at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.