Behavioral Health Programs by Health Plan

Our health plans — Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Health Net of California, Kaiser Permanente, Sharp Health Plan, and Western Health Advantage — offer resources designed to support your mental and emotional well-being at either low-cost or no-cost.

You can access resources, counseling, therapy, and other services to help you manage stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. For questions about behavioral health programs, contact your health plan directly using the contact information available on the Plans & Rates.

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.
  • 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 via 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.

    Make an appointment by visiting LiveHealth Online or calling (888) 548-3432.

  • 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.

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 for Behavioral Health: Blue Shield’s Wellvolution platform offers digital health coaching and lifestyle programs to manage stress and anxiety. Headspace® and Headspace Care™ are also available as 12-month programs 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. For provider information and to navigate benefits, visit Find a doctor in network then Mental Health Providers.

Navigating Provider Information

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

Blue Shield Access Plus, Blue Shield Trio, 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. You can also visit the Find a doctor in network webpage to find behavioral health service providers.

PERS Gold and Platinum Supplement to Medicare Plan Members: You can visit any provider that accepts Medicare. You can also visit the Find a doctor in network site to find behavioral health service providers. To explore non-network providers, call CalPERS Shield Concierge at (888) 802-4599 (TTY 711), 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific, seven days a week. 

If you’re seeking a therapist or psychiatrist, visit the Find a Provider page.

You can also 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 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.

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

Visit the Kaiser Permanente CalPERS member portal for a full list of all the health benefits available to you.

For Medicare Advantage health plan members, visit the Kaiser Permanente CalPERS retiree member portal.

  • Get Care: Connect with any care team member to discuss mental health concerns and be directly linked to needed support, 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: Kaiser Permanente offers access to Calm and Headspace 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 & Platinum Basic Plan

Effective January 1, 2025, Blue Shield of California became the administrator for CalPERS 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 or PERS Platinum Plans (Medicare)

If you are a Supplement to Medicare PPO member (PERS Gold or PERS Platinum), refer to Blue Shield of California for details about your behavioral health coverage. 

Sharp Health Plan, in collaboration with Magellan Healthcare, offers behavioral health benefits, including a wide network of behavioral health providers and video visit options.

Visit Sharp Health Plan Prevention and Wellness for more information. For more details on coverage, costs, or if you need assistance, log in to your Sharp Health Plan online account or call (844) 483-9013.

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

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

To contact WHA directly:

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, meditations, and more with Self Care by AbleTo. You'll get personalized content designed to help boost your mood and shift your perspectives. 
  • 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 at any time, 24/7.
  • Calm Health App: The Calm Health app offers meditation tools, personalized support and a roadmap to better mental health. The app is available as part of your WHA mental health program.
  • 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.

Resources By Plan