Important: This page provides general information, not medical or legal advice, a diagnosis, or a guarantee of services, coverage, cost, availability, or a particular privacy outcome. Policies and benefits can change. Consult a qualified professional for personal guidance and verify coverage and costs with the provider and health plan. Do not delay emergency help to check coverage.
Insurance
Free and Low-Cost Mental Health Services in Southern WV
Mental health care is available even if you can't afford it. Here's how to access free and low-cost services in Southern West Virginia.
The biggest barrier to getting mental health help is often cost. “I can’t afford therapy” keeps a lot of people from reaching out.
But mental health care is available even if you don’t have insurance or money. This guide explains how to access free and low-cost services in Southern West Virginia.
This page is about cost and access. It isn’t medical advice and can’t tell you what services you need. That’s what an evaluation with a clinician is for.
Community mental health centers (your best option)
Community mental health centers serve people in their communities and commonly participate in Medicaid and Medicare, may participate with commercial plans, and may use a sliding fee scale for qualifying uninsured patients. Network status, coverage, and patient cost depend on the center, service, and plan.
What a sliding fee scale means:
- Your fee is based on your household income and household size
- The fee is set from what you can actually afford, not a standard rate
- Payment plans are available
- Ability to pay isn’t a condition of being seen
What you’ll need to show:
- Proof of income, such as pay stubs, a tax return, an unemployment statement, or a written statement if you have no income
- Household size
Southern Highlands is the community mental health center serving Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming counties, with clinics in Princeton, Welch, Mullens, and Rockview. It participates in West Virginia Medicaid and Medicare, may participate with commercial plans, and offers a sliding fee scale for qualifying patients. Call (304) 425-9541 with the exact plan shown on your card to verify coverage, network status, and possible cost.
Medicaid (if you qualify)
West Virginia expanded Medicaid, so more people qualify than you might think.
You might qualify if:
- Your household income falls under the state’s limit for your household size
- You’re pregnant
- You have a disability
- You’re a parent or caretaker
Income limits are set by the state and change from year to year. If you were turned down in the past, it’s worth applying again.
What Medicaid covers:
- Therapy, including individual, group, and family
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Medication management
- Crisis services
- Substance use treatment
- Case management and peer support
How to apply:
- Online at wvinroads.org
- By phone: 1-877-716-1212
- In person at your local DHHR office
The application can take a few weeks. If you need help before then, call a community mental health center. They can see you while your application is pending.
Crisis support and cost
If you’re in crisis, do not delay calling while trying to determine coverage. Ask the responder about any cost before receiving nonemergency or residential services when circumstances allow.
Southern Highlands 24/7 crisis line: (800) 615-0122 Answered any time, day or night. Ask the counselor about the line’s privacy practices and whether any connected service could result in a charge.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, or visit https://988lifeline.org/ Contacting 988 is free. The service is confidential but not anonymous; see the 988 confidentiality statement.
Walk-in crisis services: You can walk into the Crisis Stabilization Unit. No appointment needed.
Mobile crisis response: In parts of the service area, a crisis team can come to you. Call the crisis line to ask.
Call 911 if you or someone with you is in immediate physical danger.
Telehealth (expands your options)
If you can’t get to a clinic because of transportation or distance, telehealth may work.
What you need:
- A phone. You don’t have to have video or home internet.
- A quiet place to talk
Medicaid and commercial plans may cover eligible telehealth services. Coverage depends on the service, provider, plan, and whether video, audio-only, or an in-person visit is required. Ask which appointments can be remote and what cost applies before relying on coverage.
Support groups (often free)
Support groups are not treatment and are not a substitute for it, but many are free, open to anyone, and don’t require insurance.
Types of groups in the region:
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) support groups for individuals and families
- AA and NA meetings, with listings at aa.org and na.org
- SMART Recovery, with in-person and online meetings at smartrecovery.org
- Grief support groups
- Faith-based recovery programs hosted by area churches
Ask your local mental health center what’s currently meeting in your county. Small-town meeting schedules change more often than the websites reflect.
School-based services (for children and teens)
If you have a child who needs help, check whether their school offers behavioral health services. Some schools in Southern West Virginia have services available on site, which can remove the transportation problem. Availability, eligibility, billing, and family cost vary by program and coverage. Ask the school, or call (304) 425-9541 to ask what is available and what it may cost in your district.
What if you’re working but still can’t afford therapy?
A lot of people make too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private care. This is often called the coverage gap.
Options:
- Community mental health centers with a sliding fee scale based on household income
- Employee assistance programs (EAP), which some employers offer at no cost to the employee. Check with your HR department or your benefits paperwork.
- Asking about payment plans, which most community mental health centers offer
- Reapplying for Medicaid if your income or household size has changed
What about the cost of medications?
If you have been prescribed medication and cost is the problem, there are places to ask before you go without.
Medicaid includes a pharmacy benefit, but formulary coverage, authorization, pharmacy requirements, and member cost-sharing vary by medication and current policy.
Manufacturer assistance programs — many pharmaceutical companies run patient assistance programs for people who qualify based on income. Clinic staff or a case manager can help you find and apply to them.
Pharmacy discount programs — some pharmacies run discount programs on certain medications. Ask the pharmacy directly what applies to your prescription.
Prior authorization — if a medication isn’t covered by your plan, the prescriber’s office can submit a prior authorization request. Call the clinic rather than waiting until your next appointment.
Any question about which medication you take, how you take it, or whether it should change belongs to your prescriber, not to a website or a cost-saving tip.
What if you don’t have transportation?
Getting to appointments is a real barrier in rural areas.
Options:
- Medicaid transportation (NEMT) — if you have Medicaid, rides to covered appointments may be available. Call 1-844-549-8353 and schedule several business days ahead.
- Telehealth — phone or video appointments from home
- Choose the closest clinic — ask what’s offered in Welch, Mullens, or Rockview before committing to a drive to Princeton
- Ask family or friends — a lot of people are willing to help if you let them know you need it
What generally isn’t free
Private practice therapists usually don’t offer a sliding fee scale. They charge their standard rate, and it’s typically well above what a community mental health center would set for the same household. Ask about cost before you schedule.
Hospital care can be expensive without insurance. If the concern is an urgent one, the crisis line at (800) 615-0122 can talk with you about what options exist, including walk-in crisis services.
Some prescriptions carry a cost even with insurance. Ask the clinic and the pharmacy about assistance programs.
How to ask about cost
When you call to schedule, it’s fine to ask about cost first:
- “I don’t have insurance. What are my options?”
- “Do you offer a sliding fee scale, and what do I need to bring?”
- “What will this cost me?”
- “Do you offer payment plans?”
Front desk staff answer these questions constantly. Asking won’t change how you’re treated.
What if you’re embarrassed about not being able to pay?
A lot of people feel shame about needing financial help. Community mental health centers exist specifically to serve people who can’t afford private care, and in this part of the state that’s most of who walks through the door.
The staff won’t judge you. They see people in your situation every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really get services at low or no cost?
If your household income is low, the sliding fee scale is set accordingly. Bring proof of income and ask when you call.
What if I have a job but still can’t afford care?
The sliding fee scale is based on income and household size, so working doesn’t disqualify you from reduced fees.
Will I get worse care if I’m not paying full price?
No. You see the same providers as anyone else.
What if I lose my job and can’t pay anymore?
Tell the clinic. Fees can be adjusted based on your current income.
Can I get prescriptions if I don’t have insurance?
Community mental health centers have prescribers on staff, and there are assistance programs for medication cost. Ask about both when you call.
Where can I read general information about mental health?
The National Institute of Mental Health at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ and SAMHSA at https://www.samhsa.gov/ publish plain-language, non-commercial information. SAMHSA also has a treatment locator at https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. For anything about your own care, talk to a clinician.
If you need mental health services in Southern West Virginia and are worried about cost, call Southern Highlands at (304) 425-9541. The center participates in West Virginia Medicaid and Medicare, may participate with commercial plans, and offers a sliding fee scale for qualifying patients. Give staff the exact plan shown on your card and ask what you may owe. Southern Highlands serves Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming counties with clinics in Princeton, Welch, Mullens, and Rockview. For 24/7 crisis support, call (800) 615-0122.