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On the practical and administrative side, you should know that Bipolar Disorders and Depression are for example part of the 30 illnesses classified by the French Social Security Health Insurance as « ALD » a longstanding disorder, and, therefore, covered 100%.
Make a point of discussing with your treating physician if your disorder or illness could be covered 100%, and if so, ask if he/she can quickly request the 100% coverage with your Primary Health Insurance Company (Social Security).
ATTENTION : For example, in France, only appointments with physicians, treatments and medications related to the ALD illness (long-term illness) will be 100% reimbursed. Other illnesses, not classified as ALD (long-term illness), will be covered as usual : one part is reimbursed by Social Security Insurance, and another part by your complementary insurance if you have one.
COMMENT : Even if your illness is 100% covered, this generally concerns only the exams and billed procedures by a physician, the only ones who can give you a « treatment billing sheet » or « feuille de soins » (a specific brown colored sheet that is sent to Social Security Insurance).
That means, for example, that your appointments with psychologists will maybe not be reimbursed. Conversely, psychotherapy appointments with a physician psychotherapist will be reimbursed.
To be sure of the costs reimbursed or not, we advise you to examine your health insurances.
But it may not be always possible to find physicians/psychiatrists who are available to quickly start psychotherapy counseling as a complement to pharmacologic treatment (medications).
Therefore, even if these appointments are not reimbursed, and after finding out all the information about the cost of the appointments and their qualifications, it may be very beneficial to have a few appointments for support and psychotherapy with a psychologist, if possible with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) training.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is currently recognized as giving very good results in treating mood disorders (depression, bipolarity, cyclothymia..) and/or anxiety disorders (phobias, fears and panic attacks..) and/or obsessive-compulsive behavior.
** Reader information : This section is mostly inspired of real-life experiences, and was written by the editorial staff of the Mood Institute, exclusively composed with patients - The members of the Medical and Scientific Committee are regularly asked to provide an advisory opinion - Last update
: 10/01/2011
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