Find a United Healthcare Therapist

*Always open your own Evidence of Coverage (EOC); employer carve-outs can vary.

Coverage fast facts

• Unlimited medically necessary visits. UHC sets no annual cap on therapy or psychiatry sessions.
• Parity protected. Therapy and medication management must be covered on the same footing as a medical specialist visit. Minnesota fined UHC $450,000 in 2024 for parity violations—an example of regulators watching closely.
• Telehealth is often $0. Many Marketplace, large-group, and MA plans quote zero-dollar copays for in-network virtual therapy and psychiatry.
• No referral required for PPO and most Open-Access HMO designs.

Profile: Erin, 35, a marketing manager in Phoenix with a UHC Choice Plus PPO. She's been experiencing worsening panic attacks and decides it's time to get help.

Step-by-Step:

• Day 1 – Search for Care: Erin logs into myuhc.com and clicks “Find Care” → “Behavioral Health.” The search returns 8 local therapists within 10 miles who are in-network with United Healthcare. She applies filters for “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),” “Evening availability,” and “Virtual visits.”3 therapists remain—all listed as accepting new patients.
• Day 2 – Compare Options and Check Costs: Erin clicks “Estimate Cost” for each provider. Telehealth: $0 with in-network therapists, In-person visits: $25 copay. She selects Alexa Wong, LCSW, who offers evening telehealth sessions. Books a video appointment for later that week directly through the provider’s site.
• Day 10 – Ongoing Care: After two sessions, Alexa recommends that Erin consider medication alongside therapy.
• Day 12 – Psychiatry Appointment: Erin logs back into myuhc.com and searches for in-network psychiatrists. She schedules a 30-minute virtual consult with a psychiatrist for the next morning. Cost: $0 with her UHC plan.

1. Log in to myuhc.com or the UHC app.
2. Tap Find Care → Behavioral Health (no referral needed for most plans).
3. Filter the directory: Choose in-person or telehealth, specialty (trauma, couples, ADHD), language, and distance.
4. Check the cost: Click Estimate Cost beneath each listing—numbers are plan-specific and real-time.
5. Book: For network telehealth slots (often powered by Optum), scheduling happens inside the portal. For local offices, call the number listed and give the member ID on your card.
6. Complete digital intake forms: Many clinicians send HIPAA-secure questionnaires; fill them out to avoid delays.
7. Use digital bridges: Until your first visit, explore self-guided CBT modules, mindfulness videos, and phone coaching highlighted in UHC’s mental-health resources hub.

If you can’t secure an in-network appointment within 10 business days, request a network-deficiency exception. UHC must either help you find faster care or approve partial out-of-network reimbursement under parity law.

If the first match isn’t ideal, reopen the directory—switching therapists that take United Healthcare is penalty-free.