Therapists Who Accept Anthem

Does Anthem Cover Therapy?

In most cases, yes. Anthem plans, including Anthem Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, generally include outpatient mental health benefits. Under the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, most plans must cover mental health care on terms comparable to medical care.

What you’ll pay depends on your plan:

• Copay: a flat amount per session. The amount depends on your plan, and some plans have lower copays for virtual visits.
• Deductible: on some plans, you pay the full contracted rate until your deductible is met.
• Coinsurance: a percentage of the contracted rate after your deductible.

Your Summary of Benefits, or the member services number on your card, will show your exact cost. We’re also glad to check it for you.

How We Accept Anthem

We see Anthem members through Headway. In practice, that means:

• You book with one of our clinicians and give your Anthem insurance details.
• Headway verifies your coverage and shows your expected cost before the appointment.
• Headway bills Anthem, and you pay only your share, such as your copay or deductible.

Availability varies by state and plan. Anthem operates as a Blue Cross Blue Shield company in a specific group of states, and each clinician must be credentialed with Anthem in the state where you’re located during your session. We can’t guarantee that every Anthem plan or every state is covered, so please contact us and we’ll confirm whether we can see you in-network.

If you have a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, see our Blue Cross Blue Shield page.

We do not accept Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans, including Anthem Medicare Advantage plans.

Anthem, Carelon, and EAP Benefits: What’s the Difference?

Anthem insurance can be confusing, because more than one benefit can show up on your card or in your account.

• Your regular behavioral health benefit covers ongoing therapy under your plan’s copay, deductible, and coinsurance. This is the benefit we work with.
• Carelon Behavioral Health (formerly Beacon Health Options) is a sister company that manages behavioral health benefits for some Anthem plans. If your card lists Carelon for behavioral health, let us know. We also accept Carelon through Headway, mainly in California.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) sessions are a separate, short-term benefit your employer may offer, often a few free sessions. EAP sessions are booked through your employer’s EAP portal and work differently from your regular benefit.

Online Therapy with Your Anthem Plan

Most Anthem plans cover telehealth therapy the same way they cover in-person visits. Online sessions take place by secure video, so you can meet from home, your office, or your parked car. Our clinicians are licensed across 20 states, and we have in-person offices throughout the US. Learn how our teletherapy works.

You need to be physically located in a state where your clinician is licensed and credentialed with your plan at the time of each session.

What We Treat

Our clinicians help Anthem members with a wide range of concerns, among others:

• Anxiety and panic
• Depression
• Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• OCD
• Stress and burnout, including for first responders

Evidence-Based Treatments We Offer

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD
• Trauma-focused therapies: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE)

Tips for Using Your Anthem Mental Health Benefits

• Look at the back of your card. It often lists a behavioral health phone number, and sometimes Carelon, which tells you who manages your mental health benefit.
• Check your deductible. If you have a high-deductible plan, early sessions may cost more until it’s met. Health savings account (HSA) and flexible spending account (FSA) funds can usually be used.
• Ask about telehealth. Some Anthem plans have a lower copay for virtual visits.
• Keep your plan information current. If you change jobs or plans, let us know before your next session so billing stays accurate.

Why Choose Psychological Healing

Our team includes doctoral-level psychologists and licensed therapists who specialize in evidence-based care, not general advice. We offer flexible online scheduling and help you understand your benefits before you begin.

How to Get Started

1. Contact us. Reach out online, and have your Anthem card handy.
2. We confirm coverage. We’ll check your plan, your state, and your expected cost.
3. Book your first session. Choose a time for online or in-person care.

Other Insurance We Accept

We’re also in-network with Aetna, Optum and UnitedHealthcare, Oscar (through the UnitedHealthcare network), Ambetter, and others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Anthem cover online therapy? Most Anthem plans cover telehealth therapy with in-network providers, often at the same cost as an office visit. Some plans have a lower copay for virtual visits. We’ll confirm your plan’s telehealth benefit before you start.

How much does therapy cost with Anthem? It depends on your plan. Most in-network therapy is covered under your plan’s copay or coinsurance, but high-deductible plans may require you to pay the full contracted rate until your deductible is met. We’ll give you an estimate before your first visit.

Do I need a referral to see a therapist with Anthem? Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans usually don’t require a referral. Some health maintenance organization (HMO) plans do. Check your plan documents or call the number on your card, or ask us to check.

Is Anthem the same as Blue Cross Blue Shield? Anthem is one of the independent companies that make up the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and it operates Blue plans in certain states. If your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan is from another company, see our Blue Cross Blue Shield page.

Does Anthem cover couples therapy? Coverage for couples therapy varies. Many plans cover it only when it’s part of treating a diagnosed condition in one partner. Ask us and we’ll check your benefits.

Do you accept Anthem Medicare Advantage or Medicaid plans? No. We do not accept Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans. We also do not accept Medicaid plans.

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.