Researching what your insurance company covers for mental health treatment can be a confusing and overwhelming task. Understanding the plan and the benefits you have selected can be difficult to comprehend once determined to seek help.
Fortunately, First Light Recovery meets the needs of individuals who are looking for residential mental health level of care treatment. Our admissions staff is readily available to answer any questions you make have in understanding your policy and what type of mental health care is covered.
Is Mental Health Treatment Covered by Anthem?
Treating an individual designed to offer whole-person care is an exclusive aspect offered through the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Behavioral Health programs.
Anthem believes and supports that mental health and physical health are equally connected, so an individual’s care should exist under the same policy umbrella.
Mental health care is targeted to cover treatment very similar to medical care. Patients will have a certain copay and coinsurance requirement.
Options for Mental Health
Anthem’s mental health coverage includes access to a large network of specialty behavioral health and mental health care providers. Within the providers and individuals can work closely with psychiatrists and psychotherapists.
Anthem BCBS also offered people access and treatment to specialized facilities like First Light Recovery who accept and work directly with this insurance provider. Inpatient and residential level of care treatment is accessible for the highest level of care, but other care options are readily available for individuals who need maintenance at a lower level.
Alternatives that individuals might seek are partial hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient behavioral health programs.
Understanding what your insurance plan might cover can be puzzling and confusing. Our mental health admissions experts can verify your insurance benefits on your behalf at no cost to you.
Our staff can also tell you exactly what is covered under the specific policy you have along with any out-of-pocket costs that might exist. Often Anthem BCBS will cover our program in full with no out-of-pocket cost to you. Call us now for free verification.
Some of the plans that we accept include:
- Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield (PPO and HMO)
- Anthem Bronze – Bronze health insurance plans feature low premiums with higher deductibles. These plans are best for individuals or couples who have few doctor visits and only need or want coverage for medical emergencies.
- Anthem Silver – Silver health insurance plans have average premiums but lower deductibles than the bronze level. These plans are ideal for individuals and smaller families with average healthcare needs. Silver plans also offer certain cost reductions for those who qualify.
- Anthem Gold – Gold health insurance plans have higher monthly premiums but even lower deductibles than silver plans. They are best for individuals or families with regular, ongoing healthcare needs. Gold plans cover most routine healthcare costs.
- Anthem Platinum – Platinum level plans require the highest premiums but feature the lower deductibles (sometimes even no deductible). These plans are best for individuals and families with ongoing or specialized care needs and who want the most complete coverage.
The Differences Between Mental Health and Behavioral Health
Everything from sleep to diet to exercise can affect your health. While the strength of our physical bodies is highly considered there’s another side of your well-being to preserve – the way you think, feel, and act. These relate to your behavioral and mental health.
While the terms mental and behavioral health are commonly used interchangeably, there are subtle distinctions that matter when it comes to diagnosing and treating psychological issues. There are even different approaches to managing problems related to behavioral health versus mental health.
Negative behaviors don’t always accompany these mental health conditions. Most everyone with depression, for example, experiences sleep issues whether it be trouble falling asleep or sleeping too much. But not everyone develops a behavioral disorder.
When a distinct, regular behavior that goes beyond the scope of a typical mental health condition begins to negatively affect someone, it becomes a disorder that typically requires more specific behavioral health treatment.
Understanding Prescription Costs
Anthem Insurance groups their prescription medicines in groups called tiers. The individual’s cost is based on which tier the medicine is in. Tiers 1 and 2 include low-cost and generic medicines, while tiers 3 and 4 include more expensive brand-name and specialty medicines.
Check your plan documents to see which tier your medicine is in and see what it will cost. You can save on prescription costs by:
- Talking to your doctor about generic medicines.
- Exploring an over-the-counter option.
- Seeing if your long-term prescription is available for home delivery.
Additional Resources
Several mental health resources and organizations are available to offer you support for mental health when you need it. Use this list to connect with community programs and find more information about mental health help.
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.
- PsychHub : Navigate challenges like social isolation and job loss with a free mental health resource hub, powered by Psych Hub and supported by Anthem.
- Aunt Bertha: Anthem partnered with Aunt Bertha to help you find free and reduced-cost programs to assist with food, transportation, job training and more.
- Archangels: Free caregiver resources can be a tremendous help, and you can find some near you through Archangels, an organization that supports, recognizes, and honors caregivers.
- Caregiver Action Network: Contact the Caregiver Action Network help desk for free guidance on managing the challenges of caregiving. Their care support team helps and information via chat or email.
If you need immediate, confidential help please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or send text message “home” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.