Anthem HMO – "Behavioral health benefits are carved out by your health plan"

Hi all, I'm trying to get a therapist so I went to my PCP and had them give me a referral. A few days later I got this letter in the mail saying that my pcp isn't responsible for authorizing the requested services, and that behavioral health benefits are "carved out" and "not administered through your medical group." I talked to them on the phone, did the online chat thing, and nobody was helpful. They kept telling me I need to go to my PCP to get a referral… but that's exactly what I did to get here.

I looked through some of the documents about my plan and it sounds like I don't even need a referral for mental health benefits? So can I just find a random Anthem therapist and go without a referral? If anyone could even just point me in the right direction that would be much appreciated 🙂

Edit: I see automod wants my age/state/income, not sure why that's helpful in this case but I'm 22, in CA, and making 190k.

submitted by /u/agu00
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