Check for ways to cover your bereavement support expenses
You may be able to access grief or mental health support services through your own health insurance, targeted assistance programs, and low-cost or free options.
Assistance may also be available through government programs and nonprofit organizations that focus on grief and/or mental health.
Depending on the type of loss you have experienced, there may be bereavement support available through issue-specific organizations.
For example, The Compassionate Friends provides support to families dealing with the loss of a child.
You may be able to find an organization that can help you deal with grief related to specific circumstances of the death.
For example, GRASP focus on bereavement support for survivors of those who have passed due to substance use.
Additionally, there are organizations that provide assistance for people dealing with specific types of mental health or addiction-related challenges like depression, substance abuse, or eating disorders.
Even if they do not directly provide free or low cost options, these organizations can usually point you in the right direction to find help.
If you are struggling with expenses, a fundraiser for bereavement support through gofundme is also an option.
Helpful Tips
Organizations providing support for specific types of grief
Even if they do not directly provide free or low cost options, organizations such as the one linked below can usually point someone in the right direction for finding the help they need.
Personal Considerations
Do you have medical insurance?
Check your health insurance policy to review possible mental health benefits.
If you are eligible to receive benefits, then insurance will pay for a certain portion of your visits.
However, each policy has its own guidelines for what is supported, so be sure to review its details carefully.
Certain policies may require that you only see approved practitioners, known as In-Network Providers; typically, health insurance companies will have a website where you can search for them.
However, you can also meet with any unapproved provider of your choice, they are known as Out-of-Network Providers.
In these cases, you can either pay them directly, or be possibly reimbursed by your healthcare provider at a rate different from In-Network Providers.
Review the details of your policy to confirm.
These types of mental health professionals work in a variety of settings, including but not limited to:
- Outpatient Facilities: treatment occurs outside of a medical facility such as a community clinic, school, or private practice; patients continue to live at home
- Inpatient Facilities: treatment occurs inside a medical facility such as a hospital and its psychiatric department, where the patient lives temporarily during treatment
Review options for free or low cost support.
These might be provided by nonprofits, social service agencies, religious organizations, or other entities.
You can apply for health insurance through healthcare.gov or your state's health insurance plan marketplace during open enrollment (usually after November 1st).
If you qualify for medicare or medicaid, you do not need to wait for open enrollment.
Check your health insurance policy to review possible mental health benefits.
If you are eligible to receive benefits, then insurance will pay for a certain portion of your visits.
However, each policy has its own guidelines for what is supported, so be sure to review its details carefully.
Certain policies may require that you only see approved practitioners, known as In-Network Providers; typically, health insurance companies will have a website where you can search for them.
However, you can also meet with any unapproved provider of your choice, they are known as Out-of-Network Providers.
In these cases, you can either pay them directly, or be possibly reimbursed by your healthcare provider at a rate different from In-Network Providers.
Review the details of your policy to confirm.
These types of mental health professionals work in a variety of settings, including but not limited to:
- Outpatient Facilities: treatment occurs outside of a medical facility such as a community clinic, school, or private practice; patients continue to live at home
- Inpatient Facilities: treatment occurs inside a medical facility such as a hospital and its psychiatric department, where the patient lives temporarily during treatment
Review options for free or low cost support.
These might be provided by nonprofits, social service agencies, religious organizations, or other entities.
You can apply for health insurance through healthcare.gov or your state's health insurance plan marketplace during open enrollment (usually after November 1st).
If you qualify for medicare or medicaid, you do not need to wait for open enrollment.
Was the death a result of COVID-19?
Review other ways to cover bereavement support expenses.
You can get help with your grief from the Disaster Distress Helpline or the American Red Cross Virtual Family Assistance Center website.
Review other ways to cover bereavement support expenses.
Did the deceased die in a FEMA disaster?
Review other ways to cover bereavement support expenses.
You can get help with your grief from the Disaster Distress Helpline or the American Red Cross Virtual Family Assistance Center website.
Review other ways to cover bereavement support expenses.
Was the deceased active-duty military?
The surviving spouse, children and parents of the deceased may qualify for bereavement counseling from Veteran's Affairs if the deceased was:
- A service member who died while serving their country
- A Reservist who died while on active duty
- A National Guard soldier who died while on active duty
VA bereavement counseling provides services such as:
- Outreach
- Counseling
- Referrals
Call or email VA Readjustment Counseling Service staff to access bereavement counseling services.
Review other ways to cover bereavement support expenses.
The surviving spouse, children and parents of the deceased may qualify for bereavement counseling from Veteran's Affairs if the deceased was:
- A service member who died while serving their country
- A Reservist who died while on active duty
- A National Guard soldier who died while on active duty
VA bereavement counseling provides services such as:
- Outreach
- Counseling
- Referrals
Call or email VA Readjustment Counseling Service staff to access bereavement counseling services.
Review other ways to cover bereavement support expenses.
