Find an Independence Blue Cross Therapist

Cost Estimates for IBX Mental-Health Care

What you’ll pay for therapy or psychiatry with Independence Blue Cross (IBX) depends on your plan type, but most options keep mental health services accessible and affordable.

If you’re enrolled in Keystone 65 or Personal Choice 65 Medicare Advantage, therapy and medication-management visits are typically around $40 per session.

With a Personal Choice or Keystone employer PPO or HMO, most members pay a $20–$40 copay per visit.

On the Marketplace Silver Classic plan, therapy and psychiatry visits usually cost $30–$40 after your deductible is met.

Members in high-deductible HSA plans pay 20% coinsurance after meeting the deductible, but then most visits drop to $0 for the rest of the plan year.

For children and families covered under CHIP or Medicaid (PA HealthChoices), all therapy and psychiatry visits are covered at $0.

Plan highlights:

• No referral is required for routine outpatient therapy or psychiatry.
• There’s no yearly limit on medically necessary sessions.
• Video visits cost the same as in-office visits, and many plans waive the copay entirely for telehealth.
• IBX members can also use the national BlueCard network, which means you can see in-network providers anywhere in the U.S.—a big plus for frequent travelers or students away from home.

In-network IBX Therapist Types 

Independence Blue Cross (IBX) works with a wide range of licensed mental health professionals, giving members flexibility to choose the type of care that best fits their needs.

• Therapists and counselors (LCSW, LMFT, LPC): These providers deliver weekly talk therapy, help build coping skills, and often work with couples or families. They’re usually the first-line choice for managing anxiety, depression, or life transitions.
• Psychologists (PhD or PsyD): In addition to therapy, psychologists are trained in psychological testing and offer specialized treatments like EMDR or DBT. Members often turn to psychologists for complex trauma, ADHD evaluations, or health psychology needs.
• Psychiatrists (MD or DO): As medical doctors, psychiatrists handle diagnosis and medication management, making them the go-to option when starting or adjusting medication, or when treating more complex, treatment-resistant conditions.

No matter which type of provider you choose, all three bill under the same outpatient mental health benefit, so your out-of-pocket cost will be identical.

Real-Life Example: How Dana Found Care with Independence Blue Cross

Dana, 34, enrolled in a Personal Choice Silver PPO plan

• Day 1 – Dana logs into ibx.com and navigates to Find Care & Costs › Behavioral Health. She sees seven in-network therapists within five miles.
  
  
• Day 1 – She applies filters for Telehealth, CBT, and Evening Hours. Three therapists remain, all currently accepting new patients.
  
  
• Day 2 – The cost estimator shows $0 for MDLIVE video sessions and $30 for in-person visits.
  
  
• Day 3 – Dana books a Thursday 7 p.m. telehealth session with Aliyah Nguyen, LCSW—an in-network IBX therapist. Her copay: $0.
  
  
• Day 10 – After two sessions, Aliyah recommends a low-dose SSRI. Dana schedules a 30-minute MDLIVE psychiatry consult for the next morning—also with a $0 copay.
  
  From search to first therapy session: 3 days
  Total out-of-pocket cost so far: $0

How to Schedule An Appointment with an IBX Therapist 

1. Sign in or call the Member Services number on your card.
   
   
2. Choose Find Care & Costs and select Behavioral Health.
   
   
3. Filter by ZIP code, specialty (trauma, postpartum, ADHD), language, telehealth, evening/weekend hours.
   
   
4. Confirm “In Network.” Look for the green check mark or the MDLIVE logo next to the clinician’s name.
   
   
5. Preview your cost with the on-screen estimator.
   
   
6. Book directly inside the portal for MDLIVE video or by phoning the office for in-person visits, then complete any emailed intake forms before session day.
   
   

Telehealth Options with Independence Blue Cross (IBX)

• MDLIVE for IBX – Offers video therapy and psychiatry appointments from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. Most employer-sponsored, Marketplace, and Medicare Advantage plans cover these visits at no cost. If you’re on a high-deductible plan, you'll pay the negotiated rate until your deductible is met—then pay $0.
  
• Phone-Only Sessions – Available when video isn’t an option. These are covered at the same rate as video visits.
  
• Coverage and Costs – Telehealth sessions apply to your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum just like in-person care, so every visit counts toward meeting your plan limits.

IBX Therapy Cost Breakdown 

Independence Blue Cross keeps therapy and psychiatry affordable across its Medicare, employer, Marketplace, and Medicaid plans. What you’ll pay depends on your coverage, but costs are straightforward and often lower for virtual care.

If you’re enrolled in an IBX Medicare Advantage plan, therapy visits generally run about $40 per session, whether it’s in person or online through MDLIVE.

With an employer PPO or HMO, members usually pay $20–$40 for office visits. MDLIVE video therapy is typically the same price, though many employers now waive the copay, making it $0 for virtual sessions.

On a Marketplace Silver plan, therapy and psychiatry visits average $30–$40 after your deductible for in-person care, while MDLIVE video therapy can be as low as $0–$30, depending on the plan.

For families covered by CHIP or Medicaid (PA HealthChoices), both in-office therapy and MDLIVE sessions are fully covered at $0 per visit.

Tip: Psychiatric evaluations are billed at the same rate as therapy sessions across all IBX plans, so you won’t pay extra for your first appointment.

What to do if you cant get an appointment within 10 days:

• Document Everything – Keep a log of each outreach attempt, including dates, staff names, and the next available appointment offered.
  
• Call Member Services – Ask to speak with the Behavioral Health Navigation Team. They may have access to cancellations or openings not visible online.
  
• Request a Network Adequacy Exception – If no in-network appointment is available within 10 business days, you can ask IBX to approve an out-of-network provider at in-network rates.
  
• File a Grievance – If delays continue, submit a grievance through the IBX website. The plan is required to respond within 30 days.
  

Being persistent—and keeping thorough records—can often lead to a faster appointment.

FAQs

Does Independence Blue Cross cover therapy?
Yes. All Keystone HMO, Personal Choice PPO, CHIP, and Medicare Advantage plans pay for outpatient therapy and psychiatry. Copays range from $0 to about $65, depending on plan design.

How do I find therapists that take Independence Blue Cross near me?
Log in at ibx.com, use the Behavioral Health search tool, enter your ZIP code, and apply the “Accepting patients” or “Telehealth” filter.

Are psychiatrists that take Independence Blue Cross accepting new patients?
Many are, especially through MDLIVE. Use the telehealth filter and the “Accepting patients” tag to see real-time availability.

Will my virtual visit count toward my deductible?
Yes. Telehealth sessions apply to the same deductible and out-of-pocket maximum as office visits.