Blue cross blue shield illinois mental health coverage

How do I get mental health and substance use disorder services?

Who is this for?

Blue cross blue shield illinois mental health coverage

Blue Care Network members under age 65.

Blue Care Network plans cover or help pay for mental health and substance use disorder services. They’re part of your behavioral health coverage.

Here’s how to get those services, and find out what services are included in your benefits.

Guidelines for getting help

The National Committee for Quality Assurance, or NCQA, recommends following these time frames when you need mental health and substance use disorder services. 

Get help:

  • Immediately for a life-threatening emergency. Call 911 or go to the emergency room
  • Within six hours for emergencies that aren’t life-threatening, but immediate attention is required
  • Within 48 hours for urgent care, when it’s not life-threatening but face-to-face contact is required
  • Within 10 days for routine office visits

Help is just a phone call away. Call 1-800-482-5982, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY users should call 711.  You don’t have to talk to your PCP first.

A care manager will evaluate your needs and help with referrals for services.

What’s covered

You can get this information in your member account using our website or the Blue Cross mobile app. Just look under My Coverage.

Services are listed in two groups, mental health and substance use disorder. You can find out:

  • If you have a copay or coinsurance
  • How many days or visits your plan will help pay for
  • What services require prior authorization by your plan

You can also look in the member handbook we sent you in the mail. If you need help finding it or have questions, call the Customer Service number on the back of your Blue Care Network ID card. 


Blue cross blue shield illinois mental health coverage

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The following phone and address information is for Illinois residents enrolled in Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois individual, family, and medicare health insurance plans:

Customer Service

(800) 538-8833

Medicare Supplement and Blue MedicareRx applications

Fax applications to: (847) 220-9280

Mental Health Service

(800) 851-7498

Coverage while Traveling Outside of Illinois

(800) 810-2583

Health Care Provider Inquiry

(800) 972-8088

Claims Mailing Address

Mail claims to:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
P.O. Box 3235
Naperville, IL 60566-7235
Fax: (630) 328-4356

Premium Payment Mailing Address

Mail Premium Payments to:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
P.O. Box 3240
Naperville, IL 60566-7240

Medicare Supplement Premium Payment Mailing Address

Mail Premium Payments to:
BCBSIL Medicare Supplement Payment Team
Dept. 0038
Palatine, IL 60055-0038

Deciding to see a therapist may have been difficult, but finding one who accepts your insurance may be even more challenging. And while you’re trying to cope with your own mental and emotional issues, dealing with insurance issues may be the last thing you want to do.

At Mental Health Match, we specialize in matching people to therapists near you who accept or are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Wherever you are located in Illinois from Chicago to Zion or even Lindenhurst, or anywhere else nearby, Mental Health Match can help you easily find an experienced therapist or counselor who best meets your needs.

Does Your Insurance Cover Therapy?

Before you start therapy, the first thing you should do is verify your outpatient Blue Cross Blue Shield therapy coverage. If your plan doesn’t cover behavioral health therapy, they won’t pay; it may surprise you how many plans don’t include therapist insurance coverage.

To determine what your plan covers, you can call the customer service number on your insurance card. Once you know for sure that your insurance will cover outpatient behavioral health, leave it to us to help you find a therapist who accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.

If you would like to learn more about how to use insurance to cover therapy, check out our FAQ about how to pay for therapy.

Find a Therapist Near You Who Accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield Therapy Coverage

Instead of Googling “therapists that take my insurance” and sifting through tons of results to no avail, allow us to help. After all, the longer you spend trying to figure out how to pay for therapy, the longer your treatment may be delayed.

With Mental Health Match, finding a qualified therapist near you who takes Blue Cross Blue Shield therapy coverage is easy! Start by browsing in-network experts below or by using our free therapist matching tool.

Illinois Therapists In-Network with Blue Cross Blue Shield - List Your Practice on Mental Health Match

Looking to expand your network? At Mental Health Match, we quickly match clients to licensed therapists and counselors who accept Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance. Get set up for new referrals in 10 minutes or less. 60 day free trial, with no credit cards required to start. Join now.

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois cover mental health?

Yes, Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL Blue Choice provides coverage for mental health services including therapy. Some plans offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL Blue Choice help pay for therapy sessions when its members see either in-network or out-of-network therapists.

Does Illinois state insurance cover mental health?

Most people who enroll are covered for comprehensive services, including, but not limited to; doctor visits and dental care, well-child care, immunizations for children, mental health and substance abuse services, hospital care, emergency services, prescription drugs and medical equipment and supplies.

Does Blue Cross cover therapy?

Blue Cross Blue Shield plans cover most types of therapy, including individual therapy and child therapy, as well as different types of therapy approaches, including: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois cover neurofeedback?

Examples of services this plan does not cover are: Hypnotherapy. Biofeedback.