Regarding hospitalizations for mental health problems, there are two types:
1. Short-term — 3 to 7 days, mainly for people who are risk of harming themselves or others, or otherwise in danger. Otherwise, the hospitals find it hard to convince the insurance to pay. This kind of short-term hospitalization is
2. Longer term hospitalizations — 4 weeks or more. These are private hospitals and are very expensive — in the range of $40,000 — which has to be paid out of pocket in most cases. Even if someone can afford this large sum, I think it is justified in very few cases.
There are some exceptions where insurance pays like the OCD program at McLean and some programs for Eating disorders.