Mental Health Care, Mental Health Treatment

Question: I can't get mental health care from my insurance. i really think i need professional help?

(Posted by: staunchavolitionist on 2008-10-29 23:16:02)

I have MercyCare AHCCCS, Magellan behavioral health. They only have one clinic in my rural area, so I undersand demand is high. We live in such isolation that I guess thye can;t get more people up there. Anyway, here is how it works. Every day you get up early in the morning and start calling and they tell you if they have an intake appointment for you. If they do, you get intaked, then you are their patient. Problem is they never have any intake appts, they are completely booked. I have been calling since July. I finally gave up when I realized I was suicidal and needed more immediate help. They sometimes have spots open for kids, and if they don't get a kid crisis, they can convert that appt in to an adult. But I've never been so lucky as to catch one even though I call every day. I asked them if my doctor could right me a referral for immediate care, and Magellan said no. I have to call every day and wait for an appointment. Then my doctor found me a therapist who would do it under the table for 30 dollars a session. My insurance only allows use of MAgellan, so no other provider is allowed to. 300 dollars later, I was still no where. I was still hopeless, depressed, suicidal. The guy just kept telling me it is ok to be sad and abgry, its ok. I know. The last advice he gave was to really feel how my body is reacting to stress. It just wasnt helping. I am just so lost with Magellan here in Arizona. They won't see me. I am starting to get really hopeless again.

Posted by: Gettin Thru on 2008-10-29, 23:59:41

Hi. I don't know anything about your particular insurance carrier, but since Magellan obviously isn't the answer, go around them. Go to the $30 therapist. If he/ she is willing to take that, then who cares if he/ she isn't in network. Magellan doesn't need to know. Also, call your County's Social Services or Health Services agency (in Govt section of your phone book or the County's website. Or ask for a referral from your local college. Or call a suicide hotline and ask them. There's help out there. Best wishes to you.

Posted by: squacked off on 2008-10-30, 02:01:07

When I was in crisis one time and could not be seen for weeks and needed help asap I looked in the phone book and started calling local psychiatrists and pleading my cause and explaining my dilemma and asking yes asking for compassion from them for the mental state you're in and asking them what should you do to help yourself?Ask many and go through the list. I did and it worked for me. I found a psychiatrist and he helped me and worked with me financially so I could pay my bill. You can call the suicide prevention line when you feel suicidal sometimes that's what it takes. You go to the emergency room and tell them you are going to kill yourself. You will be seen by an m.d. and you might get checked in to the psych ward for up to 72 hours so they can evaluate your mental health condition. Good Luck. Sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures but please don't ever attempt suicide. Feeling like you want to die and you want to kill yourself is a medical emergency and you should go to the nearest Emergency Room dept. at your local hospital. Good Luck.