Kaiser, Don't Deny
Patients need access to timely and consistent mental health services
Patient Stories
I deserve to receive the help I need and pay for
Published Thursday, March 14, 2019I’d been struggling and feeling lost and finally worked up the nerve to look into seeing a therapist. I called Kaiser and was told that my plan covers mental health services and there was no limit to the number of sessions. Great, I thought, so I phoned the Kaiser near me to set up an initial screening. At the screening I was told that my issues were not severe enough for me to see a Kaiser therapist. I was instead given a list of outside providers that I could pay on my own, and a list of one-day workshops that Kaiser might provide in my area (most were not) on topics like meditation (which I already do). Kaiser promotes itself as being a big proponent for preventative treatments but, when I tried to see seek out mental health treatment to help curb potentially struggling with an even more severe depression, I was turned away. I’m paying for a plan that covers mental health treatment so long as I see a Kaiser therapist, but Kaiser won’t let me. I deserve to receive the help I need and pay for.
Megan
Walnut Creek