Find Optum Therapy Services

Cost Estimate

Optum manages mental health services for millions of people, including UnitedHealthcare members and many employer-sponsored plans. What you’ll pay depends on which benefit path your plan includes.

Some employers offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Optum. This gives you 3–8 free short-term counseling sessions per issue, per year. There’s no cost for these sessions, though EAPs don’t include psychiatry. If longer-term care or medication management is needed, you’ll be referred into your health plan’s network.

Once you’re using your health plan’s mental health network, ongoing therapy and psychiatry visits are covered if medically necessary. Most PPO and HMO plans charge about $20–$40 per therapy session and $20–$60 for psychiatry. If you have a high-deductible plan, you’ll pay the full contracted rate until your deductible is met, then your costs usually drop to 20% coinsurance or the standard copay.

With Optum Virtual Care, you can book video sessions with licensed therapists and psychiatrists between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. local time. Costs are the same as in-person visits unless your EAP benefit applies—then these visits may be free.

Tip: Not sure which benefit you have? Call the number on your insurance card or check your EAP welcome materials and ask:
"Do I have access to EAP sessions, standard mental health benefits, or both?"

Types of Optum Mental Health Care Providers

Optum covers different types of mental health professionals. Here’s how each one can help:

Therapist / Counselor
(LCSW, LMFT, LPC)
Talk therapy for individuals, couples, or families.
Good for weekly or bi-weekly support with anxiety, stress, or relationships.

Psychologist
(PhD, PsyD)
Specializes in psychological testing and advanced therapies like EMDR or DBT.
Helpful for diagnostic clarity or deeper treatment approaches.

Psychiatrist
(MD, DO)
A medical doctor who diagnoses conditions and manages medications.
Often works alongside a therapist for ongoing care.

How to book an appointment with an Optum Therapist 

1. Log in at LiveandWorkWell.com or call the phone number on your insurance card or EAP flyer.
   
   
2. Choose Find Care → Behavioral Health.
   
   
3. Filter by distance, telehealth versus in-office, specialty (trauma, couples, ADHD), language, or weekend hours.
   
   
4. Confirm “In Network.” Look for the green badge next to the clinician’s name.
   
   
5. Preview cost. The site shows “EAP visit $0” or your plan’s copay/coinsurance.
   
   
6. Book directly in the portal for virtual sessions or call the office for in-person visits, then complete any emailed intake forms before your appointment.

What to do if wait times are longer than 10 days

If you're having trouble finding a timely appointment, here’s how to take action:

1. Track Your Outreach
   Keep a simple log of each provider you contact. Note the date, person you spoke with, and the next available appointment they offered. This will help if you need to request an exception.
   
   
2. Call an Optum Care Advocate
   Ask to speak with a Care Advocate through your plan’s support number. They can search for cancellations or earlier appointments across multiple ZIP codes.
   
   
3. Request a Network Adequacy Exception
   If no in-network provider has availability within 10 business days, you can request a network adequacy exception. Optum may authorize care with an out-of-network provider at in-network rates.
   
   
4. Escalate Through Live and Work Well
   If delays continue, file a service concern at LiveandWorkWell.com. You'll typically receive a response within 7 days—and many members report finding a sooner appointment within 48 hours of escalating.

FAQs

Does Optum cover therapy?
Optum itself is not an insurer, but it administers mental-health benefits and EAP programs. If your employer or health plan uses Optum, outpatient therapy is covered—often at $0 for EAP sessions and $20–$40 for standard insurance visits.

How do I find an Optum therapist near me?
Log in at LiveandWorkWell.com, enter your ZIP code, and filter for “Accepting new patients” or “Virtual visits.”

What happens after my free EAP sessions end?
You may keep seeing the same provider under your regular insurance copay/coinsurance, or you can switch to a different in-network clinician.

Are virtual visits billed the same as office visits?
Yes. Telehealth sessions apply to the same deductible and out-of-pocket maximum as in-person care.