Medicare and mental health coverage: An analysis of how current Medicare policy encumbers the Medicare-insured

ABSTRACT This study illuminates the impact of existing Medicare mental health provider policy on individuals seeking counseling services. The authors applied qualitative content analysis to data provided by members of the American Counseling Association. Two superordinate themes, current Medicare policy encumbers the Medicare-insured and creates a unique hardship on specific client populations are presented in depth in this article, in addition to several emergent themes. The results suggest that current Medicare policy has far-reaching undesirable consequences for the Medicare-insured.