What happens if one needs to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital, but they can't pay?

Safety first: If someone has a serious psychiatric illness and needs inpatient care, they should be admiited and payment can be addressed later. A hospital can not legally deny admission based on inability to pay. Once admiited, the person could talk to a hospital social worker or financial specialist about payment options. Often, hospitals will write off indigent care or the state may absorb the costs.

Hospital charges: This can be a difficult situation. Hospitals like to get paid and inpatient treatment can be very expensive, up to $1000 per day over even more. Here in mississippi, if one is committed involuntarily, the state picks up the tab. If one goes to an emergency department and is believed to need inpatient care, one can be admitted that way, but often discharged too quickly due to lack of funds.