Carelon, Explained.

For Partnership HealthPlan members who have seen the Carelon Behavioral Health name and are not sure what it means.

Many Partnership HealthPlan members first hear the name Carelon Behavioral Health in a letter, on a phone call, or on a form. It is easy to assume your coverage changed or that you were moved to a new plan. In most cases, nothing about your plan has changed at all.

Partnership HealthPlan has partnered with Carelon Behavioral Health to help with mental health benefits for its members. If you see the Carelon name, it is part of your Partnership coverage, not a separate insurance plan. Your Medi-Cal is still managed by Partnership.

You may also see an older name. Carelon Behavioral Health used to be called Beacon Health Options. The company changed its name in 2023. If you have older paperwork that says Beacon, it refers to the same organization.

If you see the Carelon name, it is part of your Partnership coverage, not a separate plan.

For most members, Carelon works in the background. You do not need to call Carelon, get a referral, or wait for approval before starting outpatient therapy with a contracted provider. As a contracted Partnership provider, PMHS verifies your coverage and handles the plan side for you, at no cost.

It helps to know which number to call for which question. For help finding mental health care through your plan, Partnership lists its mental health line at (855) 765-9703, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For questions about your card, eligibility, or plan, call Partnership Member Services at (800) 863-4155. To start therapy with PMHS, call or text (925) 771-0430.

Coverage itself stays the same. Partnership covers outpatient therapy for mild to moderate symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, grief, and stress, typically at no out-of-pocket cost. Specialty mental health services for significant impairment are covered by your county mental health plan. Under the state's No Wrong Door policy, covered care can start before a diagnosis is made.

If you received a Carelon letter you do not understand, you are not alone. Benefit letters are often written for billing systems, not for people. Bring the letter to your first session, and we can walk through it together. If something in the letter suggests a change to your eligibility, Partnership Member Services can confirm what it means for you.

In a crisis, do not wait on a letter or a phone tree. Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.

PMHS is contracted with Partnership HealthPlan in all 24 counties it serves. Covered sessions are typically at no cost to you, with no referral and no waitlist.

Getting started takes a few minutes. Submit our intake form at www.pacmhs.com/connect and we will reach out within one hour between 8am and 8pm, or by 9am the next morning to verify your PHP coverage and get your first session scheduled. You can also press the Get Started button below, which takes you to the same form.