Behavioral Health Programs by Health Plan

Anthem Blue Cross Select HMO & Traditional HMO – Basic HMO Plans

Anthem Blue Cross provides behavioral health services in-person and virtually. If you have questions or need support, call the number on your member ID card for assistance.

• Sydney Health App: Use the Sydney Health app to check costs and coverage, access LiveHealth Online to find providers, and connect with the CalPERS dedicated customer service team via chat. Additionally, you can access 24/7 video visits with doctors, therapists, or psychiatrists for the same copay as an office visit, with Spanish-speaking doctors available.
• In-Person Behavioral Health Care: Use the Find Care feature in the Sydney Health app or visit CalPERS Find Care | Anthem to find in-network providers. A copay applies; refer to your benefit materials or call the number on your member ID card for details.
• Virtual Care Through LiveHealth Online: Using LiveHealth Online, you can virtually meet with a licensed therapist within seven days to get help with mental health concerns or consult with a board-certified psychiatrist within two weeks for medication management if you're 18 or older. A copay applies; refer to your benefit materials or call the number on your member ID card for details.
• Behavioral Health Resource Center: Access behavioral health experts for support for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance use, and other behavioral health concerns. Connect with the Anthem Behavioral Health Resource Center 24/7 by calling 844-792-5141.
• Online Emotional Well-being Resources: Through Learn to Live, access online emotional well-being resources including webinars, tips and activities, articles, and more to help you manage stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep concerns.
• Behavioral Health Resource Blog: If you or a family member need extra support, visit the Anthem Mental Health Guide for additional behavioral health resources.
• Crisis Support: If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, experiencing emotional distress, or behaving in a way that could harm others, call 988 to reach the 24/7 confidential 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or text HOME to 741741.

Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Preferred (PPO) – Medicare Advantage Plan

Your Anthem Medicare Advantage Plan offers a unique set of behavioral health services in-person and virtually. If you have questions or need support, call the number on your member ID card for assistance.

• Sydney Health App: Use the Sydney Health app to check costs and coverage, access LiveHealth Online to find providers, and connect with the CalPERS dedicated customer service team via chat.
• In-Person Behavioral Health Care: Use the Find Care feature in the Sydney Health app or visit CalPERS Find Care | Anthem to find in-network providers.
• Virtual Care Through LiveHealth Online: Using LiveHealth Online, you can virtually meet with a licensed therapist within seven days to get help with mental health concerns or consult with a board-certified psychiatrist within two weeks for medication management. Video visits using LiveHealth Online are available for no cost.

Blue Shield Access+ HMO and Blue Shield Trio HMO Basic Plans, Blue Shield of California (EPO) Plan & Blue Shield of California Medicare (PPO) Plan

Blue Shield of California offers coverage for mental health and substance use disorders, including anxiety, schizophrenia, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. Covered services include individual and group therapy, outpatient intensive treatment, medication management, and inpatient residential treatment.

• Wellvolution: Blue Shield’s Wellvolution platform offers digital health coaching and lifestyle programs to manage stress and anxiety. Headspace^® and Headspace Care^™ are also available to help manage sleep, stress, anxiety, and depression, and boost resilience.
• CredibleMind: CredibleMind provides an online library of resources for managing stress, anxiety, and building resilience.
• Teladoc Mental Health Services (Exclusive to Trio HMO members): The Teladoc service offers access to psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors via phone or video from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific Time. 

Access Providers

Get detailed provider information and navigate your benefits based on the plan you're enrolled in: 

• Blue Shield Access+ HMO, Blue Shield Trio HMO, and Blue Shield of California EPO Plan Members: You have access to both inpatient and behavioral health care. To find an in-network provider, visit the Find a doctor in network webpage.
• Blue Shield of California Medicare (PPO) Plan Members: You can visit any provider that accepts Medicare. Visit the Find a doctor in network webpage to find behavioral health service providers.

Salud y Más HMO

Call the Behavioral Health Benefits number on the back of your Health Net Member ID card for benefit questions, crisis support, or referrals to in-network providers for telehealth or in-person care.

If you're having difficulty finding an available provider, contact the Member Services number on your ID card. A representative can help you find an appointment within 10 business days for a therapist or 15 business days for a psychiatrist.

• Find a Provider: Find in-network therapists, psychiatrists, and other providers near you on the Find a Provider webpage.

• Online Wellness: Health Net offers online behavioral health resources to support your mental and emotional well-being. These include articles, videos, health trackers, and health challenges you can access anytime.

  Unwinding by Sharecare: Unwinding by Sharecare offers stress reduction tools, breathing exercises, guided meditations, relaxation videos, and live virtual events through the app.

  Health Coaching: The Health Coaching Program provides one-on-one phone support for stress management and tobacco cessation. A personal health coach will help you set and achieve short- and long-term behavioral health goals.

Kaiser Permanente – Basic HMO & Medicare Advantage Plans

Kaiser Permanente offers behavioral health services including individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, and more.

Basic HMO Plan members can visit the Kaiser Permanente CalPERS member portal for a full list of all the health benefits available to you.

Medicare Advantage Plan members can visit the Kaiser Permanente CalPERS retiree member portal.

• Get Care: Connect with any care team member to discuss mental health concerns and be linked to support with no referral required. Start exploring care options on the NorCal and SoCal Get Care pages.

  Health and Wellness Resource Hub: Access behavioral health programs and services through Kaiser Permanente’s centralized resource hub. Begin with the Total Health Assessment.

  Physicians Directories: You can review available behavioral health providers without needing a member ID on the NorCal Physician and SoCal Physician Directory pages. Select from provider types such as Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Applied Behavior Analysis/Behavioral, Health Treatment (ABA/BHT), and Psychologist.

  Self-Care Apps: Access the Calm and Headspace apps for mindfulness, meditation, sleep, and emotional support. To gain access to these apps, you must start by clicking the unique registrations links found on Self-Care Apps page.

  Health Calculators and Wellness Coaching: Access health calculators and virtual wellness coaching to live a healthier life and achieve personal wellness goals.

  Onsite Health Classes and Support Groups: Participate in a variety of health classes and support groups offered across Kaiser Permanente facilities to help manage your mental health and build community support.

PERS Gold & PERS Platinum – Basic PPO Plans

For members in a Basic PPO plan, we are partnering with Blue Shield and Included Health to offer personalized health services, including support for mental health and well-being, and a variety of in-person and virtual care options. 

Visit Included Health or contact them at (855) 633-4436 for more information.

• Provider Search: Included Health lets you search for in-network providers by condition, procedure, or specialty, giving you access to a curated list of high-quality doctors, specialists, and clinics. 

  Concierge Referral: Concierge Referral can help you find and schedule an appointment with a local, in-network provider based on your specific needs. They also can share your patient records between your providers, making your care comprehensive and coordinated.

  Virtual Behavioral Health Care: Included Health offers virtual mental health care, including psychiatry, available seven days a week by appointment. You can book a virtual visit with a licensed therapist or psychiatrist, and they can offer tailored guidance, follow-up care, and prescriptions if needed.

PERS Gold & PERS Platinum Supplement to Medicare Plans

• Provider Search: You can visit any provider that accepts Medicare. Visit the Find a doctor in network site to find behavioral health service providers.
• Virtual Behavioral Health Care: Set up a virtual appointment with a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, or counselor. Appointments are available daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., often for low-cost or no copay. You may also access Teladoc Health 24/7 online or by calling 1-800-TELADOC (835-2362).

Sharp Performance Plus (Basic HMO) & Sharp Direct Advantage (Medicare HMO) Plans

Through Sharp Health Plan Behavioral Health, you can access behavioral health benefits, including a wide network of behavioral health providers, virtual mental health and substance use disorder specialty care, and 24/7 access to digital tools and wellness resources. These benefits will be provided in collaboration with Magellan Healthcare through December 31, 2026. Beginning January 1, 2027, benefits will be provided in partnership with Optum Health Behavioral Solutions of California (Optum Behavioral Health).

Log in to your Sharp Health Plan online account to review your Member Handbook and find more information about your benefits.

• Provider Search: You do not need a referral to access outpatient therapy from a provider within the network. Use the following links to search for in-network providers, filtering by specialty, location, and other criteria: 

  • Basic HMO Members Provider Search
  • Medicare HMO Members Provider Search

  Magellan Website: Access articles, videos, and webinars on various topics such as anxiety, depression, relationships, and more, aimed at improving life, mind, and body on the Magellan website. This program will be available until December 31, 2026.

  NeuroFlow App: NeuroFlow is a digital health tool for tracking, assessing, and managing mental wellness that provides tailored recommendations based on your individual needs and interests. Download on the Apple Store or Google Play Store. This program will be available until December 31, 2026.

  Behavioral Health Services: You have access to the following benefits:

  • Mental health and substance use disorder services
  • Personal or family counseling including children
  • Inpatient and outpatient hospital services
  • Outpatient therapy
  • Autism services
  • Telehealth video visits
  • Calm Health app

Sutter Health Plan (HMO)

Sutter Health Plan offers mental health and substance use disorder services through Carelon Behavioral Health of California, Inc. (Carelon). Carelon offers confidential support for depression, anxiety, stress, substance use disorders, therapy referrals, and mental health crises. Services will be effective January 1, 2027.

• Self-Referrals: You can self-refer for in-network office or virtual visits.
• Find a Provider: Call 844-398-0314 or visit the Find a Provider webpage for help finding an in-network provider who meets your needs.

UnitedHealthcare SignatureValue Alliance and SignatureValue Harmony (Basic HMO) & UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage (Medicare PPO) Plans

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) offers a variety of programs and emotional well-being resources to support members' mental health through Live & Work Well, accessible with the access code calpers.

UnitedHealthcare SignatureValue Alliance and Harmony HMO (Basic Plans) will no longer be available through the CalPERS Health Program beginning January 1, 2027. UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage will remain available. Visit the UnitedHealthcare Basic Health Plans Removal for 2027 webpage for more information.

• Parent and Youth Resources: Access resources designed to help parents and adolescents address mental health concerns, including conversation starter cards to facilitate discussions about mental health.
• Calm Health App: Get 24/7 access to self-paced digital learning modules, mental health screenings, and resources to help manage stress, anxiety, build resilience, and improve mindfulness with the Calm Health app.
• Virtual Visits: Access virtual care online to connect with experienced behavioral specialists right from your home.

Contact UHC

• Basic Members: Call 1-877-359-3714, Monday – Sunday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Pacific, or access 24/7 self-service mental health resources at myuhc.com.
• Medicare Members: Call 1-888-867-5581, Monday – Sunday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Pacific, or access 24/7 self-service mental health resources on the UHC CalPERS Retirees webpage.

Western Health Advantage (Basic HMO)

Western Health Advantage (WHA) provides behavioral health services through its partnership with Optum Behavioral Health for stress, mental health, and substance use.

Behavioral health services are provided through the Live and Work Well platform, which offers personalized support tools, resources, and connections to an extensive network of mental health providers, both virtual and in-person.

• Self-Care Tools: Access self-care techniques, coping tools and personal empowerment tools at Live and Work Well.
• Optum Community Connector: Find food pantries and free or reduced cost services, resources, and support near you with Optum’s Community Connector, offered through FindHelp.

• Finding a Provider: Use Live and Work Well with access code WHA to search for in-network providers by specialty, location, and availability. If you need assistance, you can also call Optum directly, 24/7.

  Calm Health App: The Calm Health app offers meditation tools, personalized support and a roadmap to better mental health.

  Crisis Support: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, immediate help is available by contacting Optum Behavioral Health through the Live and Work Well platform or calling the 24/7 hotline at (800) 765-6820.

Contact WHA

To contact WHA directly:

• CalPERS Basic Members: Call (800) 765-6820 or visit WHA CalPERS Basic Plans.
• CalPERS Medicare Advantage Members: Call (855) 857-9748 or visit WHA CalPERS Medicare Plans.