Skip to main content

Behavioral health

Everyone deserves to be healthy in both body and mind. That’s why your plan covers health for the whole person. This includes help with mental health or substance use. Aetna Better Health Kids members can get help from any behavioral health provider in our network.

Questions?

Check your provider manual (PDF) for answers. Or call us at 1-866-638-1232 (TTY: 711).   We're here for you Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

Help in a crisis

Help in a crisis

Behavioral health emergencies: Dial 988

If you have a behavioral health emergency, call, text or chat 988. This is the new number for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you or your child have thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, their trained counselors can help you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You also have the option to chat online with a counselor through their Lifeline Chat service.


Medical emergencies: Dial 911

If you have a medical emergency and need help right now, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. You can use any hospital for emergency care, even if it isn’t in our network. Just show your member ID card.
 

Special Needs Unit

You can also call our Special Needs Unit for help at 1-855-346-9828 (TTY: 711). We’re here for you Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. We’ll link you to helpful mental health resources.

 

 

We’ve got you covered

 

Behavioral health benefits cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. We offer treatment options to help you feel better and support your recovery. You don’t need a primary care provider (PCP) referral. You can get care from any provider in our network.

Behavioral health coverage

You have unlimited mental health outpatient visits. Some services need prior authorization. You’re covered for services including: 

 

  • Psychological testing 
  • Mental health provider visits
  • Partial hospitalization 
  • Intensive outpatient therapy 
  • Medication management  

If your child is diagnosed with a severe mental health condition or developmental disability (ex: schizophrenia, autism), you may qualify for extra benefits and services. These benefits may have different limitations. Just call

Member Services at 1-800-822-2447 (TTY: 711) to learn about eligibility and benefit limits.

If you think your child has a drug or alcohol problem, we can help. We cover treatment services including:

 

  • Inpatient detoxification
  • Non-hospital residential treatment 
  • Outpatient drug or alcohol treatment 

 

Learn more about substance use disorder  

Check out our new no cost Behavioral Health program to support Tweens, Teens and their Guardians.

 

Pyx Introduction Letter (PDF)

 

Pyx Tweens & Teens Flier (PDF)

 

Pyx Guardian Flier (PDF)

Understanding costs

Your copays for behavioral health services usually depend on the type of CHIP coverage plan you have: free, low-cost or full-cost. In some cases, your copay may depend on the type of service you get. Here are some details:

 

Autism spectrum disorder diagnosis:

 

Autism spectrum disorder services:

  • Free CHIP: no copay
  • Low-cost CHIP: copay based on service type
  • Full-cost CHIP: copay based on service type

 

If you have questions about the costs of certain autism spectrum disorder services, just call us at 1-800-822-2447 (TTY: 711).

 

Inpatient hospital or rehabilitation stays for mental health or substance use:

 

  • Free CHIP: no copay
  • Low-cost CHIP: no copay
  • Full-cost CHIP: no copay

 

Visits to specialist providers:

 

  • Free CHIP: no copay
  • Low-cost CHIP: $10 copay
  • Full-cost CHIP: $25 copay

Learn more about behavioral health

Learn to manage stress
Did you know that stress can affect your health? It can be hard to keep up with healthy habits during times of stress.

 

You can read these articles to learn more about mental and emotional well-being:

 

Understanding depression

 

Healthy living resources

 

4 ways to take care of physical and mental well-being during unsettled times

 

Or learn more about depression from the National Institute of Mental Health.

Substance use disorders happen when people misuse drugs, alcohol or both, repeatedly. Often, substance use is related to mental health.

 

Learn more about substance use disorders

 

Or find more info from:
 

Alcoholics Anonymous®

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Mental health disorders can be serious. They can change a person’s thinking, feeling, mood and daily functioning. And each year they affect 1 in 10 children. 

 

Some examples of mental health disorders include:

 

  • Depression

  • Schizophrenia

  • Bipolar disorder
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

  • Anxiety

  • Borderline personality disorder

For more info, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website.

 

There, you can learn about the different support programs NAMI offers, including:

 

  • StrengthOfUs.org 
    An online social community for teens and young adults living with mental illness. It’s a place for them to connect and learn about services.

 

  • Peer-to-Peer 
    A no-cost course for adults living with mental illness. Those who join can learn about coping skills and self-care.

 

Use this search tool to get help finding free or reduced-cost resources, including food and supplies, housing, health and wellness services, and legal services.

Also of interest: