Profile: Carlos, 42, lives in Houston and is covered by Molina Medicaid. He’s been feeling anxious and overwhelmed balancing work, family, and financial stress. After a tough week, he decides to look for a therapist.
Day 1: Searching for Care: Carlos visits MolinaHealthcare.com and navigates to: Find a Doctor → Behavioral Health Providers. He enters his ZIP code and insurance type (Medicaid) to filter results. He sees eight in-network therapists within 15 miles of his home. He filters for:
- Virtual appointments
- Evening hours
- Specialties in anxiety or CBT
Three therapists remain, all accepting new Molina Medicaid patients.
Day 2: Booking the Appointment: Carlos calls the first therapist and confirms they accept Molina Medicaid and offer video visits. He books a Tuesday evening virtual session for later that week. Cost: $0 (Molina Medicaid covers therapy at no cost to members)
Day 10: Continuing Care: After several sessions, the therapist recommends Carlos speak to a psychiatrist about possible medication support.
Day 12: Psychiatry Appointment: Carlos calls Molina Member Services for help finding an in-network psychiatrist. They refer him to a local provider offering telepsychiatry appointments. He books a 30-minute video consultation for the next available slot. Cost: $0 (psychiatry is also fully covered under Molina Medicaid)
Helpful Tip for Molina Medicaid Members: If no therapist or psychiatrist has an appointment within 10 business days, call Molina Member Services and ask for a network adequacy exception. This allows you to see an outside provider at no cost if access is delayed.