Key takeaways

  • For Medicare beneficiaries, most services related to grief counseling — including individual therapy, group therapy — are covered under Original Medicare (parts A and B) and Medicare Advantage (Part C).
  • Original Medicare (parts A and B) covers mental health services, such as grief counseling. This includes depression screenings, psychotherapy, and medication management.
  • Any mental health services covered under Original Medicare will also be covered under Medicare Advantage (Part C). Some Medicare Advantage plans may also offer additional coverage.

Grief counseling, also called bereavement counseling, can help guide people through the grieving process. While grief counseling is often related to the loss of a loved one, people can also grieve over other big life changes, such as the loss of a relationship or job.

Grief counseling is a mental health service. Medicare covers most mental health services related to grief counseling for beneficiaries.

These services may include:

  • inpatient mental health services
  • outpatient mental health services
  • medications
  • partial hospitalization

In this article, we’ll explore Medicare’s coverage of grief counseling, as well as other Medicare-covered mental health services you may need during the grieving process.

Medicare covers a wide range of mental health services related to grief counseling as part of their mental health services.

Specifically, Medicare Part A covers inpatient mental health services, while Medicare Part B covers outpatient and partial hospitalization mental health services.

That said, Part A will only cover up to 190 days of inpatient grief counseling services, while there’s no restriction on the number of outpatient mental health counseling sessions that Medicare Part B will cover.

Part C (Medicare Advantage)

Any mental health services covered under Medicare Parts A and B will also be covered under Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage). In addition, some Part C plans may offer additional coverage.

Many Medicare Advantage plans also offer prescription drug coverage. If you and your doctor have decided you’d benefit from antidepressants or other medications during grief counseling, your Advantage plan may cover them.

Part D

If you require antidepressants or other prescription drugs as part of your mental health treatment, Medicare Part D will cover them.

Antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants are all covered under Medicare Part D.

Your Part D plan may cover additional drugs used during treatment. However, check your drug plan’s formulary (list of covered medications) for more information on what is and isn’t covered.

You don’t have to meet specific eligibility requirements for grief counseling services under Medicare. Instead, you and your team of healthcare professionals will determine what mental health services you may need during the grieving process.

These services may include counseling and group therapy appointments, short-term antidepressants, and, in some cases, partial or full hospitalization.

In addition, Medicare generally covers all mental health services as long as the healthcare professional is an approved participating professional.

Participating professionals are those who accept Medicare assignments. This means they’ve contracted with Medicare to provide services to beneficiaries at a Medicare-approved rate.

Plenty of Medicare-approved mental health professionals accept Medicare assignments. If you’re not sure, however, you can always double-check with them (and your plan) first.

Finding help when you’ve had a loss

Grief is a personal yet collective experience that all of us will live through in our lifetime.

While the grieving process is incredibly hard, you don’t have to go through it alone. Here are some resources for finding professional help when you’re grieving:

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): SAMHSA is a national mental health resource with a 24/7 helpline that can be used to find grief support services in your area.
  • American Counseling Association (ACA): The ACA has a full page dedicated to articles, journals, and other specific resources for grieving people.
  • GriefShare: GriefShare is an organization that hosts weekly grief support groups around the nation. Its website has a find a group tool to help you locate groups in your area.

You can also reach out to your Medicare plan directly to find a therapist or other mental health professional who specializes in grief counseling in your area.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates clinical and counseling psychologists charge a mean rate of about $51 an hour. This suggests that rates can vary widely and may be higher depending on the professional, their credentials, and your geographic location, among many factors.

In addition, even if you’re covered for mental health services under your Medicare plan, you may still need to pay some out-of-pocket costs associated with your care.

These costs for 2025 include:

  • Part A premium: usually $0 but may be up to $518 per month in some cases
  • Part A deductible: $1,676 per benefits period
  • Part A coinsurance: $419 or more per day after 60 days
  • Part B premium: $185 or more per month
  • Part B deductible: $257 per benefits period
  • Part B coinsurance: 20% of the Medicare-approved amount

Your premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for Part D, Medicare Advantage, and Medigap depend on your specific plan.

Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap)

If you need help paying some of the out-of-pocket costs associated with your mental health services, a Medigap plan can help.

Medigap is supplemental Medicare insurance that helps cover various costs associated with Original Medicare (parts A and B). This includes Part A and Part B:

  • coinsurance
  • copayments
  • deductibles

Some Medigap plans also cover excess charges and costs you may experience during foreign travel. Before you purchase a Medigap plan, compare your coverage options to determine whether adding a policy is worth it.

A doctor or mental health professional can help you determine which grief counseling services might be most helpful. The types of grief counseling Medicare covers include:

  • family counseling
  • group psychotherapy
  • individual psychotherapy
  • lab and diagnostic testing
  • medication management
  • partial hospitalization
  • psychiatric evaluations
  • yearly depression screenings

Once you’re ready to move forward with grief counseling, you can receive services from the following Medicare-approved professionals:

  • physicians
  • psychiatrists
  • clinical psychologists
  • clinical social workers
  • clinical nurse specialists
  • nurse practitioners
  • physician assistants
  • certified nurse-midwives

For Medicare beneficiaries, most services related to grief counseling — including individual therapy, group therapy, and more — are covered under Original Medicare (parts A and B) and Medicare Advantage (Part C).

Adding a Medicare prescription drug plan and, in some cases, a Medigap plan can offer further coverage and payment help for grief counseling–related services and expenses.

If you need grief counseling or any other mental health services, the first step is to reach out to your healthcare professional. They can direct you to a mental health professional to help you get your needed support.