Blue Cross NC members have access to mental health professionals, substance use treatment, crisis services, and telehealth options across all 100 North Carolina counties.
Via Blue Cross NC By Ish Bhalla
Mental health is an essential part of your overall health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) covers behavioral health services—including mental health care and substance use treatment—as part of its commitment to whole-person care.
Whether you're dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, or a more serious condition, Blue Cross NC offers resources to help you find the proper care. This includes access to in-network therapists, psychiatrists, and counselors, as well as programs designed to connect you with support quickly when you need it.
Blue Cross NC plans cover a range of behavioral health services as part of your medical benefits. Coverage details vary by plan, but most plans include:
Outpatient therapy and counseling: Individual, family, and group therapy sessions with licensed therapists, psychologists, clinical social workers, and counselors.
Psychiatric services: Evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management with psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners.
Substance use disorder treatment: Outpatient and inpatient treatment programs for alcohol and drug use disorders, including medication-assisted treatment.
Inpatient mental health care: Hospital-based psychiatric care for severe conditions requiring intensive treatment.
Telehealth mental health visits: Virtual appointments with behavioral health providers, covered at the same cost as in-person visits.
Preventive mental health screenings: Depression and anxiety screenings as part of preventive care, typically covered at no additional cost.
Your specific coverage depends on your plan. Check your benefit documents or call the number on the back of your member ID card to confirm what's covered and what you'll pay.
Blue Cross NC members can find in-network behavioral health providers through several options:
Find Care Tool: Use Blue Cross NC's online Find Care tool at bluecrossnc.com to search for in-network psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, social workers, and counselors by location and specialty.
Behavioral Health Care Navigation: Blue Cross NC offers Care Navigation services to help you find the right provider. Call 800-755-0798 or log in to Blue Connect to complete a mental health referral form. A Care Navigator will contact you to help match you with a behavioral health professional.
Your Primary Care Doctor: Your regular doctor can discuss your concerns and refer you to an in-network specialist. Many primary care offices now offer integrated behavioral health services or can connect you directly with mental health resources.
Self-Referral Form: If you need help finding a behavioral health provider, fill out Blue Cross NC's self-referral form online. A Care Navigator will reach out to assist you.
Blue Cross NC has invested in programs designed to improve access to behavioral health care and support members with complex needs.
Behavioral Health Total Care
This program provides comprehensive, coordinated care for members with serious mental illness, substance use disorder, or both. As of August 2024, Behavioral Health Total Care is available statewide across all 100 North Carolina counties.
The program addresses both physical and mental health needs through a dedicated care team that may include behavioral health care managers, physical health care managers, and peer support specialists. Services are available to eligible members with Commercial, Federal Employee Program (FEP), and Medicare Advantage plans.
Behavioral Health On Demand
When you're experiencing an urgent mental health need that doesn't require emergency room care, Behavioral Health On Demand provides fast access to virtual behavioral health services. Eligible members ages 6 and older can be assessed and connected with a mental health specialist to address their immediate need—often within hours rather than days or weeks.
Before the appointment ends, you'll be scheduled with a provider for ongoing treatment. This program helps members get timely care while reducing unnecessary emergency department visits.
Behavioral Health Rapid Response
Part of Blue Cross NC's commitment to easier access, Behavioral Health Rapid Response provides on-demand services for members who need urgent, same-day mental health support. This service offers an alternative to emergency room visits for non-emergency behavioral health needs.
Youth Mental Health Initiatives
Blue Cross NC has launched a long-term commitment to addressing the youth mental health crisis in North Carolina. Initiatives include Youth Mental Health First Aid Training across all 100 counties, with a goal of training 3,700 people—including 1,000 youth—by the end of 2025. This training helps adults who interact with young people identify and respond to mental health challenges.
In March 2025, Blue Cross NC announced support for "Changing Minds: The NC Youth Behavioral Health Action Plan," a statewide effort to develop recommendations for improving youth access to behavioral health services for ages 5-21.
Blue Cross NC covers telehealth visits for behavioral health services, making it easier to access care from home. Virtual mental health appointments are covered at the same cost as in-person visits.
Telehealth options include:
• Therapy and counseling sessions via video
• Psychiatric evaluations and medication management
• Substance use disorder counseling
• Crisis intervention services
For Medicare Advantage members, telehealth for behavioral and mental health care can be received at home permanently as of October 2025, per federal guidelines.
Check with your plan to confirm telehealth coverage and find providers who offer virtual visits through the Find Care tool or by contacting Care Navigation.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available 24/7.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 for free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The 988 Lifeline connects you with trained crisis counselors who can help with mental health crises, suicidal thoughts, substance use concerns, and emotional distress.
Since launching in July 2022, the 988 Lifeline has received over 16 million contacts nationwide. In March 2024, the average wait time was just 21 seconds, and 85% of calls were answered within the caller's home state.
Specialized 988 Services:
• Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, then press 1
• Spanish language services: Call 988, then press 2
• LGBTQ+ youth support: Available 24/7 via phone and text
• Native line: Specialized support for American Indian and Alaska Native communities
Blue Cross NC Crisis Line
Members can call the mental health number on the back of their Blue Cross NC ID card and select the option for "Crisis" to connect with immediate support.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor via text message.
NAMI North Carolina HelpLine
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NC provides information and support Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 800-451-9682, text 919-999-6527, or email [email protected].
Emergency Situations: If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.
Mental health and physical health are connected. Someone managing diabetes may also experience depression. A person with chronic pain may develop anxiety. When these conditions are treated separately by providers who don't communicate, care suffers.
Blue Cross NC is working to integrate behavioral health into primary care settings across North Carolina. This approach has been shown to improve health outcomes and lower costs by:
• Identifying behavioral health needs earlier, often during routine primary care visits
• Coordinating care between physical health and behavioral health providers
• Addressing social factors that affect health, such as housing, food security, and transportation
• Providing whole-person treatment plans that consider all aspects of a patient's health
Many primary care practices in the Blue Cross NC network now offer behavioral health services on-site or through close partnerships with mental health providers.
Just like adults, children and teens face mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, and trauma. Blue Cross NC covers mental health services for members of all ages, from children through older adults.
Services for young people may include:
• Individual therapy with child and adolescent specialists
• Family therapy
• Psychiatric evaluation and medication management
• School-based mental health support (varies by location)
• Intensive outpatient programs for adolescents
If you're concerned about a child's mental health, start by talking to their pediatrician or use Blue Cross NC's Care Navigation services to find an appropriate provider.
Blue Cross NC covers treatment for alcohol and drug use disorders as part of behavioral health benefits. If you or a family member is struggling with substance use, help is available.
Covered services typically include:
• Outpatient counseling and therapy
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
• Inpatient and residential treatment
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid and alcohol use disorders
• Detoxification services
• Peer support and recovery services
Use the Find Care tool to search for in-network substance use counselors and treatment programs, or call Care Navigation for help finding appropriate care.
Taking the first step toward mental health care can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to figure it out alone. Here's how to get started:
1. Check your benefits: Review your plan documents or call the number on your ID card to understand what's covered.
2. Find a provider: Use the Find Care tool at bluecrossnc.com or call Care Navigation at 800-755-0798.
3. Talk to your doctor: Your primary care provider can discuss concerns and provide referrals.
4. Consider telehealth: Virtual visits make it easier to access care from home.
If you have questions about Blue Cross NC mental health coverage or need help finding the right plan, our licensed agents at Health Plans of NC can help. Contact us at 1-800-797-0327 for a free consultation.
Does Blue Cross NC cover mental health services?
Yes. Blue Cross NC plans cover behavioral health services, including therapy, psychiatric care, and substance use treatment as part of your medical benefits. Coverage details vary by plan, so check your specific benefits or call the number on your member ID card.
How do I find a therapist that takes Blue Cross NC?
Use the Find Care tool at bluecrossnc.com to search for in-network therapists, psychologists, and counselors. You can also call Care Navigation at 800-755-0798 for help finding a provider that matches your needs.
Does Blue Cross NC cover telehealth for mental health?
Yes. Blue Cross NC covers virtual mental health appointments at the same cost as in-person visits. This includes therapy, psychiatric consultations, and substance use counseling via video.
Do I need a referral to see a mental health provider?
For most Blue Cross NC plans, you don't need a referral to see a behavioral health provider. You can schedule directly with an in-network therapist or psychiatrist. However, some plans may have different requirements—check your specific benefits to confirm.
What is the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline?
988 is the national three-digit number for suicide and mental health crisis support. Call or text 988 any time, 24/7, to connect with a trained crisis counselor. It's free, confidential, and available to everyone—you don't need insurance to use it.
Does Blue Cross NC cover substance use treatment?
Yes. Blue Cross NC covers treatment for alcohol and drug use disorders, including outpatient counseling, intensive outpatient programs, inpatient treatment, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and detox services. Coverage specifics depend on your plan.
Blue Cross NC Find Care Tool: bluecrossnc.com (search for behavioral health providers)
Blue Cross NC Care Navigation: 800-755-0798
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7)
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
NAMI North Carolina: 800-451-9682 or naminc.org
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (treatment referral service)