Anthem Blue Cross of California
Did you know almost half of all Americans will experience a behavioral health condition in their lifetime? Well it’s true. Conditions like depression, anxiety and stress can affect a person’s health, well-being, relationships and workplace productivity.
Unfortunately, behavioral health conditions can go untreated because it’s difficult to make an appointment, it usually requires time off of work, and people are worried about being seen at a therapist’s office. The good news is, with LiveHealth Online Psychology, this can change.
Starting January 1, 2016, Anthem members will be able to use LiveHealth Online to have private video visits with a psychologist or therapist for behavioral health counseling. LiveHealth Online makes it easy and convenient for members to get the care they need from the comfort of their own home with:
Evening and weekend appointments: Appointments are available during the evening and on weekends.
Members clients can schedule their first visit and be seen within four days. In some cases behavioral health specialists will be available for on-demand appointments, too.
Comfortable setting: Ability to interact privately with a psychologist or therapist from a comfortable environment, like home.
The member cost share is the same as an in-person visit: Online visits using LiveHealth Psychology will reflect the same member cost share that is built into your clients’ coverage today for in-person visits. For example if their plan has a 10% cost share for in-person visits, then they will have a 10% cost share for online behavioral health visits using LiveHealth Online.
Frequently Asked Questions about LiveHealth Online Psychology
Q: What is the availability?
A: Members will be able to schedule an appointment with a psychologist or therapist from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. coast to coast, 7 days a week. There will be some access to on-demand visits when a provider is available. But most providers using LiveHealth Online will require an appointment to be scheduled in advance. In most cases, we anticipate members will be able to make an appointment for their initial visit within 4 days or less. Appointments are 45 to 50 minutes long.
Online visits with behavioral health professionals are available in 46 states. Please visit livehealthonline.com to see if online visits are allowed in your state.
Q: What type of behavioral health providers can a member see using LiveHealth Online Psychology?
A: Therapists and psychologists will be available to provide behavioral health services using LiveHealth Online. These behavioral health specialists cannot prescribe prescription medication as a result of the online visit.
Psychiatrists are not available at this time.
Q: What types of conditions can you receive help for using LiveHealth Online Psychology?
A: Therapists using LiveHealth Online Psychology can help members with these types of conditions:
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Relationship or family issues
• Grief
• Panic attacks
• Stress from coping with a sickness
Q: Who can use this?
A: Behavioral health visits are available to members and consumers age 18 and older. Online behavioral health visits are not available to members under the age of 18, even with a parent present or their permission.
Joint therapy visits with two people (over the age of 18) are allowed but will be billed to the LiveHealth Online account holder who initiated the visit.
Q: How will a member know how much the visit costs?
A: Members will see the cost before their visit starts and can pay their share of the visit using a Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express credit or debit card.
Psychologists using LiveHealth Online typically charge $95 per visit, and therapists typically charge $80 per visit. Members will pay their cost share determined by their plan design and any applicable deductibles, coinsurance or copay amounts. The remainder, if any – is submitted for reimbursement just like a visit in the office.
Q: What if behavioral health coverage is carved out of the Anthem health plan?
A: If behavioral health coverage is carved out of an employer Anthem health plan, LiveHealth Online Psychology will be removed from the online visit platform for these employers and employees. Instead these members can still have a LiveHealth Online Psychology visit it just won’t apply to their deductible, etc. Contact your Anthem representative for questions.
Q: Will members have to re-register for LiveHealth Online?
A: No, once a member registers for LiveHealth Online he or she will be able to view both medical and behavioral health providers.
Q: Will these providers be considered “In-network”?
A: Yes, the therapists and psychologists members can visit using LiveHealth Online are in the network.