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Behavioral Health

If you or someone in your care is in a crisis or having suicidal thoughts, it is important that you seek help immediately. In an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

For less urgent concerns, the choice of seeking help through health services or traditional office setting is a personal choice. Some people prefer to develop a relationship with a provider through face-to-face sessions; others appreciate the option to access care without having to find transportation or long travel times to office visits. The good news is that research has shown telemental health services to be as effective as the typical face-to-face model of care.

Local & Nationwide Resources

Santa Cruz County Older Adult Mental Health Services more information here

Local Counseling Services through Senior Network Services more information here

National Council on Aging Behavioral Health Resources more information here

Telemental Resources

Many of UC’s medical plans offer telemental health options for eligible members through specialized telehealth providers such as Teledoc or 1DocWay. Contact your plan’s telemental health provider, listed below, to register for an account and learn more about the services.

Medicare Plan	Your Cost	Provider and contact info
UC Medicare PPO (Anthem)	96% coverage for in-person visit when covered by Medicare coverage. 80% coverage (after $100 deductible) for in-person visit with Anthem preferred provider when NOT covered by Medicare (this is a benefit beyond Medicare) $20 co-payment for LiveHealth Online visit with psychologist, therapist and/or psychiatrist	Live Health Online 1-844-784-8409
UC High Option Supplement to Medicare (Anthem)	100% coverage for in-person visit when covered by Medicare coverage. 80% coverage (after $50 deductible) for in-person visit with Anthem preferred provider when NOT covered by Medicare (this is a benefit beyond Medicare) $20 co-payment for LiveHealth Online visit with psychologist, therapist and/or psychiatrist	Live Health Online 1-844-784-8409
Kaiser Senior Advantage	$20 copayment for each in-person office or telemental health visits	Call your local Kaiser medical center to make an appointment; some providers offer phone or video appointments. You don’t need a referral.
Health Net Seniority Plus	$20 copayment for each in-person office or telemental health visits	Teladoc 1-800-835-2362 MHN (Managed Health Network) 800-663-9355
Plan	Cost	Provider and contact info
CORE UC Care UC Health Savings Plan [non-Medicare]	UC Care: No charge for first three routine office or telemental health visits; $20 copayment for each of your following visits CORE and UC HSP (subject to deductible): Until deductible is met, $95 for a psychologist; $80 for a therapist. After deductible has been met, $19 for a psychologist; $16 for a therapist.	Live Health Online 1-844-784-8409
UC Blue & Gold (Health Net) HMO [non-Medicare]	No charge for telemental health services through Teladoc. Otherwise, no charge for first three routine in-person office or telemental health visits; $20 copayment for each of your following visits	MHN (Managed Health Network) 1-800-663-9355 Teladoc 1-800-835-2362
Kaiser Permanente HMO [non-Medicare]	No charge for first three routine office or telemental health visits; $20 copayment for each of your following visits	Call your local Kaiser medical center to make an appointment; some providers offer phone or video appointments. You don’t need a referral.
Optum (for non-Medicare Kaiser Permanente members)	No charge for first three routine office or telemental health visits; $20 copayment for each of your following visits	Liveandworkwell.com (access code: 11280), select find a virtual visit provider 1DOCWay 1-888-440-8225