Does Medicare Cover Therapy in Texas? 2026 Guide
Does Medicare cover therapy in Texas? Yes. Medicare Part B covers outpatient mental health therapy, at 80% of the Medicare-approved rate after your annual deductible, and a January 2024 update added Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists as eligible providers, which expanded access significantly. Faith-based therapy is covered exactly the same as any other licensed therapy. Coverage details vary by plan, so verify your benefits before your first session.
That is a simpler answer than the phone tree suggests. If you’re on Medicare and you’ve ever tried to figure out whether therapy is covered, you’ve probably had this experience: you call the number on your card, get transferred two or three times, get put on hold for an unforgivable length, get a partial answer that contradicts what someone told you last week, and you hang up no clearer than when you started.
Here’s what’s actually covered, what you’ll pay, how Medigap and Medicare Advantage change the math, and how to find a Medicare-credentialed Christian therapist in Texas. If you’re weighing this for an aging parent, our companion guide on Christian counseling for seniors walks through grief, depression, and how coverage works.
Looking for a therapist who takes Medicare near you? Two questions settle it faster than a map: is the clinician enrolled with Medicare, and are they licensed in the state you are sitting in during the session? Enrollment is voluntary, so a therapist a few streets away may not bill Medicare at all, while one at the other end of Texas may. Because Medicare’s telehealth coverage for mental health is permanent, “near me” in practice means licensed in your state far more than it means within driving distance. Faithful Therapy accepts Medicare and sees clients across Texas by video: you can book a first session and bring your coverage questions to the first appointment.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24/7.
What Medicare Part B covers for mental health
Medicare Part B covers a wide range of outpatient mental health services. The main ones you’ll see on a therapy bill:
- Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation: CPT 90791 (without medical services) or 90792 (with). This is your first session, the intake.
- Individual psychotherapy: CPT 90832 (30 min), 90834 (45 min, the most common), 90837 (60 min)
- Family psychotherapy: CPT 90846 (without patient present) or 90847 (with patient present, used for couples therapy when one partner has a billable diagnosis)
- Group psychotherapy: CPT 90853
- Substance use disorder treatment
- Annual depression screening: at no cost in primary care
- The Welcome to Medicare visit: includes a mental health screening
“Medicare covers therapy. Most beneficiaries never know that, until they need it.”
Eligible providers in 2026 (LMFTs and LPCs now included)
As of January 1, 2024, Medicare formally added Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) and Mental Health Counselors (LPCs / LMHCs) as eligible providers. This was a big deal: it opened Medicare reimbursement to thousands of faith-based clinicians who had previously been excluded.
The full list of eligible Medicare providers for mental health now includes: psychiatrists (M.D., D.O.), psychologists (Ph.D., Psy.D.), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), Licensed Professional Counselors and Mental Health Counselors (LPCs / LMHCs), nurse practitioners and physician assistants with mental health scope, and clinical nurse specialists.
What you’ll pay: deductible, 20% coinsurance, and Medigap
The math is straightforward once you see it laid out:
- Annual Part B deductible: $283 in 2026. You pay this once per calendar year before Medicare starts paying.
- After deductible: Medicare pays 80% of the Medicare-approved amount; you owe 20%.
- The Medicare-approved amount depends on the service, the type of clinician and where you live. Ask the practice for the approved amount for your visit.
- Your share is 20% of that approved amount.
- If you have a Medigap plan: most Medigap plans cover the 20% coinsurance, which can leave you with little or nothing to pay per session after the deductible is met.
That is usually far less than paying a full self-pay rate for the same session.
Coverage and costs vary by plan and situation; always verify your specific benefits with Medicare or your plan before your first session.
Telehealth coverage (permanent for mental health)
Medicare covers mental health visits by video from your home, and Medicare.gov notes that for most telehealth services you pay the same amount you would in person. Audio-only visits can be covered in some cases. The provider must be licensed in your state.
Congress made home-based telehealth for mental health a lasting part of Medicare, and Medicare.gov currently lists telehealth from anywhere in the U.S., including your home, as covered through December 31, 2027. The practical implication: if you live in rural Texas where the closest Medicare-credentialed Christian therapist is two hours away, you can see one via telehealth from your living room and pay the same as you would in person. If you want to see how a video appointment actually works, our guide on how online Christian counseling works walks through it.
One caveat: Medicare may require an in-person visit within six months of your first mental-health telehealth appointment in some situations. Rules have shifted in recent years, so confirm the current requirement with your provider.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) mental health coverage
Medicare Advantage plans (run by private insurers like Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna) must cover all Original Medicare mental health benefits at minimum. Some plans add extras like additional sessions, expanded telehealth, or zero-copay therapy as a plan-level enhancement.
The trade-off: Medicare Advantage plans typically use narrower provider networks, and some require a referral from your primary care doctor before therapy. Verify with your specific plan.
Texas-specific: state-licensed providers and what counts
Texas-licensed providers eligible for Medicare reimbursement are credentialed through the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC), which consolidated the previously separate boards for psychologists, social workers, LPCs, and LMFTs. Anyone calling themselves an LPC, LCSW, LMFT, or psychologist in Texas must be active and in good standing on the BHEC roster.
How to find a Medicare-credentialed Christian therapist
- Check the therapist’s website or call the practice to confirm Medicare enrollment. Not every licensed therapist accepts Medicare: enrollment is voluntary.
- Use the Medicare.gov physician finder to verify enrollment.
- Verify state license at the Texas BHEC site.
- Ask about faith integration approach: how do they integrate Christian faith into sessions? Do they pray with clients who request it? Have they treated others with your specific concern?
Ready to start? Our licensed Christian therapists see clients across Texas by telehealth: you can book a therapy session and bring your questions to the first appointment.
Related reading: Does Medicare cover Christian counseling?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a therapist who takes Medicare near me?
Check two things: that the therapist is enrolled with Medicare, and that they are licensed in your state. Enrollment is voluntary, so not every licensed therapist bills Medicare. You can verify enrollment with the Medicare.gov provider finder and a Texas license on the BHEC roster. Because Medicare covers telehealth for mental health permanently, a therapist anywhere in your state can usually see you by video, which widens the search well beyond your own town. Coverage varies by plan, so confirm with your plan and the practice before your first session.
Does Medicare cover Christian counseling?
Yes. Medicare covers Christian counseling when delivered by a Medicare-credentialed licensed clinician. (Source: Medicare.gov “Outpatient Mental Health Services,” CMS Telehealth Flexibilities)
What CPT codes does Medicare cover for therapy?
90791/90792 (evaluation), 90832 (30-min therapy), 90834 (45-min therapy), 90837 (60-min therapy), 90846/90847 (family), 90853 (group).
Does Medicare cover telehealth therapy?
Yes. Medicare covers mental health visits by video from your home, and for most telehealth services you pay the same amount you would in person. Audio-only visits can be covered in some cases.
How much will I pay out of pocket?
After the Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for each session. If you have a Medigap policy, it may cover some or all of that 20%. Ask the practice for the approved amount for your visit so you know the number in advance.
Do I need a referral?
Original Medicare: no. Medicare Advantage: sometimes; verify with your plan.
What’s the annual deductible in 2026?
$283 for Medicare Part B. Pay once per calendar year before Medicare starts paying.
Verify your Medicare therapy coverage
Faithful Therapy accepts Medicare and works to match you with a Medicare-credentialed Christian therapist, usually within about a week.
Verify your Medicare therapy coverage →
Sources
- Medicare mental health coverage: medicare.gov
- Medicare telehealth coverage: medicare.gov
- CMS page on marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors: cms.gov
This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Individual results vary; nothing here should be interpreted as a guarantee of treatment outcome, diagnosis, or insurance coverage.
Last updated November 5, 2026.
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