How to find an Aetna psychiatrist

If you struggle with your mental health, seeking professional help is the first step towards improving your well-being. A psychiatrist can diagnose you and devise an effective treatment plan to help you feel better. However, finding a psychiatrist who’s the best fit for you, including whether they take your insurance, can be difficult and overwhelming, but we’re here to help.

If your health insurance is through Aetna, you have mental health benefits. Read on to learn about how to find an Aetna psychiatrist.

Does Aetna cover mental health?

Yes, Aetna covers mental health services. Thanks to The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, insurance providers must provide mental health coverage comparable to the physical health coverage they offer. This ensures you can get the help you need.

Common psychiatric services typically covered by insurance include:

• Initial evaluation

• Medication management  

• Psychotherapy, AKA talk therapy  

Depending on your insurance plan, there might be specific requirements or limitations on the type of psychiatrist or mental health profession you see, and the treatment setting. Learn more about how insurance covers psychiatry.

Your plan will also determine some other key factors, such as:

• Your copay: The flat-fee you typically pay on the day of your visit. Your copay might differ for mental health services, primary care, and specialists. When you’ve spend enough money out-of-pocket and met your deductible, you typically still pay these costs, but it depends on your plan.

• Your deductible: The amount of money you must spend out-of-pocket before your insurance starts to pay for services. Typically, the higher your monthly premium, the lower your deductible.

• Your coinsurance: This is a percentage amount that dictates how much you’ll have to cover for services out-of-pocket. For example, your plan might cover 80% of the cost, and you only have to pay 20%. Your coinsurance amount may also change once you reach your deductible.)

• Whether you need referrals: Some plans require a referral to see a specialist. In this case, your primary care provider will have to give you a referral to schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist to ensure the services are covered. HMO plans are more likely to require referrals than PPO plans.

• Outpatient vs. inpatient benefits: There may be different costs for outpatient services (like traditional once-weekly talk therapy that happens at the doctor’s office) as opposed to inpatient services (like if you’re staying extended periods of time in a hospital or mental health facility).

Review your Aetna member documents to learn about your plan details and better understand your specific benefits, coverage, and out-of-pocket costs. Don’t hesitate to contact Aetna member services if you’re confused about your benefits. Some questions you may want to ask are:

• What is my deductible?  

• Have I already reached my deductible?

• Does my deductible apply to mental health care?

• How much are my copays or coinsurance for mental health services?

• Do I need a referral to see mental healthcare providers, such as therapists, psychologists, or psychiatrists?  

• What are my specific outpatient (or inpatient) benefits?  

• Can you help me find providers who accept my plan?

How to identify in-network Aetna psychiatrists

Ready to start your search? There are many ways to identify in-network Aetna mental healthcare providers. Here’s a step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Find Aetna-approved psychiatrists  

There are a few ways you can find a psychiatrist who takes your insurance, including:

• Browsing online directories: Some websites allow you to search by criteria like location, gender, specialties, and accepted insurance plans. Check out sites like ZocDoc.com and PsychologyToday.com and filter by your unique needs.

• Use your insurance directory: There’s typically an online directory you can use to find a list of healthcare providers that accept your insurance. However, these aren’t always 100% accurate since they may not be recently updated. Be sure to contact the provider and make sure they accept your plan.

• Work with a virtual Talkiatry psychiatrist: Talkiatry is a national psychiatry practice that treats various mental health conditions. We’re in-network with over 60 major insurance carriers, including Aetna. You can take a quick, free online assessment to get matched with an Aetna psychiatrist and get treatment from the comfort of your own home.  

Step 2: Consider whether the psychiatrist meets your unique needs  

Whether a psychiatrist accepts your insurance shouldn’t be the only deciding factor on whether a provider is right for you. Some other factors to consider are:

• Their credentials and experience

• Their specialty or specialties (i.e., anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorder, or mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder)

• Whether they practice in person, virtual telehealth, or both

• Your personal preferences (such as age, gender, race, etc.)  

• If they are currently accepting new patients  

• If they offer mental health counseling services/therapy on top of medication management

Psychiatrists are medical doctors with medical school and residency-level training. Some complete additional training so they may specialize in certain conditions or patient populations. They'll take a holistic view of all of your conditions to recommend an appropriate treatment, discuss potential risks and benefits of different treatments, recommend and prescribe appropriate medications, and to monitor your progress.

Step 3: Cross-check coverage  

When you find a psychiatrist you’re interested in, you should cross-check insurance coverage to be on the safe side. Ask the psychiatrist if they accept your insurance company and plan, and then confirm coverage with your insurance provider.

Related article: How to find a Cigna psychiatrist

How to schedule your initial mental health visit

Once you’ve confirmed that a psychiatrist accepts your insurance and meets your unique needs, it’s time to schedule your first visit. Depending on the practice and whether they’re accepting new patient appointments, the wait to get the initial appointment can vary.  

Before the first appointment, or at the first appointment, you will likely have to fill out a lot of paperwork about your medical and mental health history so that the psychiatrist can get a full view of your symptoms.  

The first appointment may consist of an extensive initial evaluation. Your psychiatrist will ask you a lot of questions about what brought you in, your current symptoms, past or current diagnoses, family history, and more—including any traumatic experiences you’ve had in the past. They will also likely assess your safety risks and ask about suicidal thoughts.  This allows them to understand you and aid in a diagnosis. They might also ask whether you use drugs or alcohol, what your daily life is like, your home life, and what you do for work. This will usually be your longest appointment, at an hour or more.  

Your psychiatrist will discuss your treatment plan and treatment goals to best support your mental well-being. If you haven't already, you’ll also discuss logistics, like billing procedures, before the appointment.

If you are interested in talk therapy, it may be recommended for you to seek also a psychotherapist (for example, who are licensed clinical social workers, psychologist) for further support.

How much do Aetna psychiatrists cost?

The specific cost of your psychiatrist will depend on your specific Aetna plan. It’s crucial to ensure the psychiatrist is in-network to maximize your mental health/behavioral health insurance benefits and minimize your out-of-pocket costs.

Still, you should check your benefits or call Aetna member services to learn what your exact costs would be.  

The information in this article is for education and informational purposes only and should never be substituted for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. If you or someone you know may be in danger, call 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 right away.