Anthem Insurance Coverage for Mental Health Treatment

January 6, 2026

Authored by: Meagan Burkhart,

Edited by: Jemma Strain, B.S. Psychology

Finding the right form of treatment can be stressful enough without worrying about how you’re going to pay for it or whether your insurance will cover it. This can make understanding Anthem mental health coverage essential.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is one of the largest health insurance carriers. There are a variety of Anthem health insurance plans available, including individual and family plans, Medicaid, Medicare, and small business plans. Plus, depending on your specific plan, you will have different levels of Anthem mental health coverage.

Finding high-quality mental health treatment for you and your family is important for maintaining your well-being. But sometimes insurance carriers don’t make it easy for you to figure out what is covered and what is not.

If you have Anthem health insurance and you’re trying to navigate all the benefits for you and your child, the team at Mission Prep can help. This page works as a useful guide to understanding Anthem’s mental health coverage, including the different services that may be included in your benefits. It explores the following topics:

Levels of Anthem mental health coverage
Different types of covered mental health programs
The mental health conditions treated under coverage
Anthem dual diagnosis coverage
How to verify your Anthem insurance
Where to find additional help for Anthem subscribers

Levels of Anthem Mental Health Coverage

Anthem complies with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 by offering benefits for mental health and substance use at levels comparable to medical and surgical benefits. Part of this compliance is ensuring that the financial burden of mental health treatment is not more restrictive than that for medical and surgical services.

One way that Anthem works to offer different levels of mental health coverage to its subscribers is by determining medical necessity.¹Basically, “medical necessity” is the term insurance companies use to determine the healthcare services that are appropriate, given a person’s condition, diagnosis, and current standard of practice.

When you shop for an Anthem health insurance plan on the marketplace, there are different tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each corresponds to different levels of monthly payments and deductibles for coverage.

Once you land on a preferred Anthem plan, you can look at your specific mental health benefits.

Different Types of Covered Mental Health Programs

Anthem covers a wide range of mental health treatment programs, including outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, psychological testing, substance abuse services, and more. Types of coverage will vary by plan, but the following services are generally covered to some extent:

Outpatient mental health treatment: Anthem therapy coverage includes a wide range of behavioral health providers. Therefore, both in-person and virtual visits are included in most plans. Anthem also offers its Sydney Health app for subscribers to search for therapists by location and specialty.²
Inpatient psychiatric treatment: Anthem inpatient mental health coverage includes admission to a general hospital or a psychiatric hospital to treat severe mental health concerns. These hospital stays are usually short-term treatment options to manage significant safety issues and medication changes.
Residential treatment: Anthem residential treatment coverage is typically limited to eating disorder residential treatment and substance misuse residential and rehab programs. Even so, only select Anthem plans provide coverage for residential mental health treatment.³

We understand that the task of determining the right level of care for your child can be daunting. Luckily, you don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Our team at Mission Prep can help provide the appropriate treatment recommendations that fit your child’s needs, taking affordability into account to ease your financial burden.

Mental Health Conditions Treated Under Anthem Therapy Coverage

Most mental health conditions can be addressed with Anthem mental health benefits, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Depending on your teen’s diagnosis, different treatment options and levels of care may be recommended.

Let’s look at the common services typically covered by insurance, which are used to treat major mental health conditions.

Depression Treatment

Depression is unfortunately common in adolescents today, and symptoms can significantly impact a teen’s everyday life. If you suspect that your teen has depression, finding the right treatment is essential for providing them with the support they need to thrive.

Anthem insurance for depression treatment can include a variety of options depending on your specific needs. For example, outpatient therapy like CBT and DBT is often covered to some degree for ongoing treatment. In addition, some Anthem plans include coverage for partial hospitalization programs for depression, intensive outpatient programs, and even transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). All of these evidence-based treatment options aim to address the wide range of depression symptoms your child may be experiencing.

Anxiety Treatment

Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), specific phobias, and panic disorder, can require specialized mental health treatment. If you suspect that your teen has an anxiety disorder, understanding Anthem anxiety treatment coverage is important.

Some of the benefits you may ask about may include prescription medications, like SSRIs or benzodiazepines. Additionally, outpatient therapy, partial hospitalization programs, and intensive outpatient programs may be suitable in certain cases. Seeking the advice of a trained mental health practitioner can help you determine where to start your search for anxiety treatment options.

PTSD Treatment and Ongoing Support

When a child or teen is exposed to a traumatic event, they may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can manifest in aggressive or impulsive behaviors in adolescents, which can differ significantly from the symptoms seen in adults. Therefore, finding a specialized Anthem PTSD treatment option is crucial for long-term recovery. This might include a residential treatment facility, medication management, or outpatient therapy. Finding the right fit for your child may take time, but under the guidance of a trained mental health professional, you can figure out what works best for your situation.

There are, of course, a variety of other mental health conditions that can be addressed through Anthem’s covered mental health programs. Getting the proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations can help you navigate the options available through your insurance plan.

Anthem Dual Diagnosis Coverage

If your child is diagnosed with both a mental health condition and a substance misuse disorder, Anthem dual diagnosis coverage offers options for integrative treatment. Anthem’s integrative approach to dual diagnosis treatment involves addressing both conditions simultaneously to get the best outcomes.

Some of the services that may be included in your Anthem mental health insurance include outpatient/inpatient programs, therapies, and even Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) plans for those eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid plans.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), trauma therapy, family therapy, and group counseling are a few interventions that can be included in your Anthem mental health benefits.

Verifying Your Anthem Insurance

If you are ready to reach out to Mission Prep to get your teen set up with the right mental health treatment, verifying your Anthem insurance is the first step. By verifying your insurance coverage ahead of time, you can avoid surprise bills or denied claims.

Follow these steps to verify your Anthem insurance with Mission Prep today:

Navigate to the insurance verification section of our website
Fill out the form, which will ask for your name, date of birth, and insurance information
Submit a copy of your Anthem insurance card and any referral documents that you may need
Contact us for additional help. We can assist you in verifying your Anthem insurance coverage if you are having difficulties filling out the form or if you need more information

Once you submit your information, you will receive a response describing which Mission Prep mental health services are covered by your Anthem plan. You can also review your financial responsibility, including your deductible, copays, and coinsurance. If you still have questions, you can reach out to us at Mission Prep or contact your insurance company to get an explanation of your benefits.

Additional Help for Anthem Subscribers

You can find extra Anthem mental health help through the website’s mental health resources page. The resource section has a robust collection of articles and blog posts related to different mental health conditions. It can also help you better understand how to connect to mental healthcare, support loved ones with mental health concerns, and find additional resources from national organizations.

Some of the nationwide resources that can be helpful to refer to include:

- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): This offers mental health information as well as tools for finding local support groups and treatment options.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): This leads public health efforts to advance behavioral health services across the country. Their website has links to tools for finding local support and learning more about mental health issues and substance misuse disorders.
- Archangels: This has free resources for caregivers, and you can search based on your location. These resources cover both medical and behavioral healthcare.

In addition to the sources above, there are crisis lines available 24/7 for those who need immediate services. For instance, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255

Mission Prep: Helping You Navigate Anthem Covered Mental Health Programs

The cost of mental health treatment shouldn’t stop you and your child from receiving the care you need. If your teen has been diagnosed with a mental health condition and you’re looking for help, reach out to Mission Prep.

Our team is equipped to assist you in finding Anthem-covered mental health programs that meet your needs. Whether your child requires regular outpatient therapy or more intensive inpatient psychiatric care, there are options available to you that can be affordable.

Contact us today to get started with your insurance verification and set up your first appointment for a behavioral health treatment session.