Optum is a behavioral health company that manages mental health and substance use benefits on behalf of many health plans and employers. If you’ve been told your mental health coverage runs through Optum, or if you see Optum on your insurance card, Keri Powell Therapy accepts it.
We have offices in Champaign, downtown Champaign, Mahomet, Monticello, and Oak Brook. We also see clients throughout Illinois via telehealth.
How Optum Works
Optum administers behavioral health benefits for a wide range of health plans, including United Healthcare and many employer-sponsored plans. This means your medical and mental health coverage may be managed separately. Your medical card might show UHC or another carrier, while your mental health benefits are handled through Optum.
This setup is more common than most people realize, and it’s worth understanding before you try to use your benefits:
- Your Optum behavioral health benefits are separate from your medical benefits. The deductible, copay, and session limits may differ from what you’re used to for regular doctor visits.
- Most Optum-administered plans don’t require a referral for outpatient therapy. You can contact a provider directly.
- Telehealth is covered under most Optum plans. Virtual sessions are billed the same way as in-person visits.
- If you’re not certain whether your mental health benefits run through Optum, check the behavioral health section of your benefits summary or call the member services number on the back of your card.
When you reach out to us, we’ll verify your Optum coverage before your first appointment and walk you through what your plan covers. No guessing.
What to Expect When You Reach Out
When you contact us, we’ll ask for your insurance information and confirm your Optum benefits before scheduling. Because Optum administers plans on behalf of many different carriers and employers, the specifics vary. We verify accurately rather than assume.
Once coverage is confirmed, we’ll match you with a therapist based on what you’re working through, your schedule, and your location preferences. We have therapists who work with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, substance use, and more. The goal is the right fit, not just the next available slot.
Your first session is about getting to know each other. You’re not locked into anything before you’ve had a chance to see how it feels.
Ready to Get Started?
Call us at 217-352-0200 or use the form below. Tell us a little about what you’re looking for and we’ll take it from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. We accept Optum. When you reach out, we’ll verify your specific plan and benefits before scheduling.
Check the back of your insurance card for a separate behavioral health number, or look at your benefits summary for a mental health or behavioral health section. If it references Optum, your therapy benefits run through them. You can also call us and we’ll help you figure it out.
Likely yes. Optum is a subsidiary of UHC and manages behavioral health benefits for many UHC plans. Your medical coverage may show UHC while your mental health benefits are handled through Optum. When you reach out, let us know what’s on your card and we’ll sort out which benefits apply.
Most Optum-administered plans don’t require a referral for outpatient therapy. You can contact us directly. If your specific plan is an exception, we’ll catch that when we verify your coverage.
Yes. Most Optum plans cover telehealth for mental health services. We offer virtual appointments to clients anywhere in Illinois. If getting to an office isn’t practical, telehealth is a fully supported option.
We have offices in Champaign, downtown Champaign, Mahomet, Monticello, and Oak Brook. We also see clients throughout Illinois via telehealth.
All of our therapists are in-network with Optum. Whoever we match you with, your Optum benefits apply.