GETTING CARE
Crisis lifelines and immediate help
In a life-threatening mental health or medical emergency, call 911.
In emotional distress crisis: call or text 988-Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (24/7) or chat with a counselor at 988lifeline.org.
Emergency Behavioral Health Services provided by an emergency behavioral health services provider are always covered no matter if the provider is in your network or not.
This includes treatment by Mobile Crisis Response Providers.
Mental Health Care
LifeWise wants you to keep doing what you love. That’s why your plan offers support for mental or behavioral health issues such as eating disorders and substance abuse.
Mental health conditions are common and highly treatable
1 in 3 adults report experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety right now. That’s up from 1 in 5 adults pre-COVID. How to seek help? Often it is a good idea to consult with your primary care provider first, because medical conditions can cause symptoms similar to mental illness. Many people who have a mental health condition do not want to talk about it. It is a medical condition, just like heart disease or diabetes. One in three adults report experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety right now (source).
Signs that you or a loved one could use mental health support:
- Low mood
- Fear, anger, or sadness that won’t go away
- Persistent changes in appetite or difficulty sleeping
Getting help for a loved one
When a friend or family member has a mental health issue, it's not uncommon for loved ones to try to get help for this individual. Before doing this, it's important to have a plan in mind, which includes lining up a treatment center or program. Due to privacy laws, we can't give you information about your loved one's health without his or her permission. However, if you know your loved one's health plan name, we can answer questions about in-network treatment options.
Mental health warning signs and symptoms
There has never been a greater awareness of how the right treatment and approach to managing mental health can help. The first step is recognizing the signs or the symptoms that you or a loved one may be experiencing.
Adults
Psychological and emotional imbalances
- Excessive worrying, prolonged stress, depression, grief
- Changes in mood and frequent anxiety
- Strange or grandiose ideas
- Emotional exhaustion and social withdrawal
- Thinks or talks about self-harm or suicide
Physical problems
- Insomnia and hypersomnia
- Physical aches without obvious causes
- Exhaustion and fatigue
- Changes in eating or sleeping patterns, lack of self-care
- Panic attacks, shortness of breath, chest pain
Behaviors
- Withdraw from family, friends, social situations
- Unable to manage daily activities, drop in job performance
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs
- Change in intimacy, lack of energy or interest
- Self-harm
Kids and teens
Psychological and emotional imbalances
- Struggle to verbalize emotions, writing about death or suicide
- Outbursts of anger and tempter tantrums
- Regular irritability and noticeable mood changes
- Feeling like a burden, worthlessness, lack of hope
- Persistent lack of motivation and energy
Physical problems
- Insomnia and hypersomnia
- Headaches and stomachaches
- Digestive problems or appetite changes
- Exhaustion and fatigue
- Panic attacks, shortness of breath, chest pain
Behaviors
- Shutting down, screaming, crying
- Withdraw from family, peer groups, social situations
- Drop in academic or sports performance
- Use of drugs or alcohol
- Extreme mood changes of highs and lows, defiant behaviors
- Self-harm
PROVIDERS
Types of mental health providers
Psychiatrists
- Medical doctors with specialized training in mental health or substance abuse conditions.
- Diagnose, treat, prescribe, and manage both the mental and physical aspects of behavioral health.
- Treat some of the more severe and complex behavioral health conditions.
Psychiatric ARNP
- Specialize in psychiatric care; have advanced master's degrees.
- Use talk therapy, medication, or a combination of both treatments.
- Can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication related to mental health conditions.
Psychologists
- Have doctoral degrees in psychology, and focus on treating mental health or substance abuse conditions.
- Take care of people with mood and anxiety disorders and talk through issues.
- Provide tactics to manage issues, perform testing to diagnose illness; however they don't prescribe medications.
Licensed clinical mental health counsellors (LMHC)
- Have a master's or advanced degree and state license.
- Provide individual and group counseling with difficult life events, such as relationship problems, death of loved ones, and illness.
- Often use cognitive therapy, which is generally short-term and can help with anger management, panic, fears, depression, and anxiety.
Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW)
- Have master's degrees and are licensed to treat patients with either mental health or chemical dependency.
- Can perform clinical evaluations, provide therapy, and refer clients to resources. They do not prescribe medication.
- Use therapy focused on changing behavior, understanding and dealing with emotions, or learning how to cope. This often includes identifying triggers and working on solutions.
Licensed marriage and family therapists (MFT)
- Marriage and family therapists are mental health professionals trained in psychotherapy and licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples, and family systems.
- Treat a wide range of clinical problems including depression, anxiety and issues within the context of the family.
- Services are covered when the identified patient has a covered mental health diagnosis and marriage and family therapy is included in the patient's treatment plan.
Mental health resources
Crisis resources
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, and prevention and crisis resources for your or your loved ones. Call 800-273-8255 – TTY: 711.
SAMHSA National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Call for information and referrals: 800-662-HELP (4357) – TTY: 711. Help is available in English and Spanish.
Mental health
Lifeline Connections is a community-based behavioral health organization that specializes in providing confidential and compassionate care to individuals who experience a substance use and/or mental health condition.
Lutheran Community Services Northwest has a diverse array of programs under these lines of service: Behavioral Health Services, Family & Community Support, Child Welfare Programs, Refugee & Immigrant Services, Violence Intervention & Prevention, Aging & Independent Living, Housing Navigation Services
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline is a national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. Call or text 800-985-5990 if you've experienced a national or human-caused disaster. Help is available in English and Spanish.
Substance abuse
Pioneer Human Services specializes in treating people involved in the criminal legal system and those struggling with substance use disorders, mental health issues and co-occurring disorders.
Veterans support
Veterans Crisis Line offers 24-hour, toll-free, confidential support for veterans and those who support them. Call 988 then press 1 or text 838255.
Homelessness
Wellspring Family Services include Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Stability Program, Family Information Resource Exchange, Housing Services, Early Learning Center, and Wellspring Family Store.
Domestic violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse. Call, chat, or text 24/7: 800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY: 711
Right to privacy for minors
In many states, including Washington, minors ages 12-17 may receive care for mental health or substance use conditions without consent from parents or guardians. In other states, such as Alaska, the age of consent is 18. Premera is mandated to respect these rights to privacy as defined by law.
Explanations of benefits for members 13 or older will be mailed in the name of the member who received the care. This means parents or spouses might not be able to see claims through the online member account or speak to customer services representatives about these claims unless the member grants permission to family members.
Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) mental health
Stigma associated with mental illness can lead people to avoid seeking help. BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities may also experience language barriers, cultural norms that discourage mental health care, and a lack of cultural competency by providers. Additionally, trauma caused by racism often causes deeper mental health burdens (source). When seeking care, consider meeting with several providers to find one that offers the experience you need. Feeling comfortable with your provider is key to your success.
How to file a complaint with the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC)
Please use the OIC complaint form or the toll-free OIC hotline at 1-800-562-6900. You can also access all reports issued by the OIC at Reports | Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
Benefits under your health plan may differ, so refer to your benefit booklet for information on what your specific health plan covers.