Psychiatrists in California

Yes, most California health insurance carriers provide mental health benefits that cover psychiatrist visits, including the initial evaluation and regular sessions (check-ins). However, the exact amount of coverage will vary based on the insurance plan details and whether the selected provider is in-network or out-of-network with your insurance. Just like any other medical professional, if the psychiatrist is in-network with your insurance, you’ll pay only a copay at each session after meeting your annual deductible. If the psychiatrist is out-of-network with your insurance, you may still be able to receive reimbursement after paying the fee.

We work with: MultiPlan-PHCS, Mines, BCBS AZ, Optum (UnitedHealthcare), Sana Benefits, Alignment Healthcare, Scripps Health Plan, Beacon Health Options, Anthem Blue Crossof CA, Magellan, Holman Group/Cencal, HMC, HMC Health Works, Scott and White Health Plan, Managed Health Network, Aetna, Self-Pay, Anthem Blue Cross of CA, Blue Shield of CA, Santa Barbara Select IPA, Kaiser, Anthem, Sharp, MHN, MediNcrease, Cigna, ComPsych and Humana.

If you have a PPO or POS insurance plan (or so called “open access” plans), you can likely receive some reimbursement when you see a psychiatrist out-of-network in California.

If you have an HMO, EPO, or Medicaid/Medicare plan, you likely cannot receive reimbursement, and would be responsible for the full out-of-network session fee. LifeStance accepts most of the commercial health insurance plans.

Initial evaluations can be around $200-$300, with subsequent meetings around $150-$250. The psychiatrist may have to order blood work, lab tests, or psychological testing, and any other investigations in order to know that there are no other medical issues causing the psychological symptoms and signs which are normally covered by insurance. If you don’t have insurance, keep in mind that these costs will be out-of-pocket.

Some psychiatrists can provide talk therapy as a part of their treatment plan. However, they may also choose to focus more on medication management for their patients, depending on their individual training and practice style. It is important to discuss your preferences and treatment options with your psychiatrist to ensure that you receive the best care possible. If you can benefit from talk therapy, and your psychiatrist only offers medication management, they will refer you to a therapist or a psychologist within the LifeStance network that already works with your insurance.

Once you have found your provider on the LifeStance directory, you will have an option to book an appointment online directly from the provider’s profile page or request a callback and a LifeStance representative will be in touch to help you with scheduling.

LifeStance has approximately 48 offices in California, so if in-person visits are preferable to you, make sure that you select a psychiatrist that accepts patients in the mental health clinic close to you. You can also search by map to find locations in California near you. While some clients prefer in-person sessions because they offer a safe, neutral ground for the session to take place, for the widest range of psychiatrist options, consider expanding your search to also include doctors licensed in California who offer telehealth.

A few topics you may wish to ask your psychiatrist about include: diagnosis details, symptom treatment and management, medical care, treatment plans, side effects, and expectations for follow-up appointments.

If your insurance plan does not require a referral from your primary care physician, it is entirely up to you if you want to discuss with them about seeing a psychiatrist. Some psychiatrists would prefer to see you only after you have first gone to your primary care doctor to get a referral, but this isn’t always the case. Depending on your insurance, you may be able to see an in-person or online psychiatrist without getting a referral from your primary care provider. You can contact your insurance company to check if you need a referral to see a psychiatrist.