If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Mental health care has become a growing priority for many people’s well-being.
As a King County Employee, you have access to comprehensive health care coverage, including mental health coverage. Balanced You recognizes it can be overwhelming to keep track of all the benefits available to you and aims to equip you with information to know and use your benefits. A common theme among many employees is the struggle to find the right mental health care provider. Whether your insurance provider is Kaiser or Regence, there are robust tools at your fingertips to connect you with a mental health care provider.
Mental health care providers include psychiatrists, psychologists, or master’s level therapists. They treat a wide range of conditions, from temporary anxiety brought on by stress, to longer-lasting conditions like bipolar disorder. Your provider will work closely with you to offer guidance and help improve your ability to achieve life goals.
Mental Health Care for Kaiser Members
To access a mental health care provider outside of the primary care setting, or find addiction treatment, call 1-888-287-2680, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For an online option, log into your Kaiser account and start a secure message or care chat. No referral is needed to access mental health services or wellness resources. More information on the Kaiser Permanente Mental Health page. On this page you can click on a chat button and a licensed mental health clinician will direct you to the appropriate resource at Kaiser.
Mental Health Care for Regence Members
Regence Customer Service—online or by phone
Regence’s customer service staff also can provide personalized service to connect you to mental health providers over the phone, including providers who specialize in children or teen mental health care. Call the number on back of your card, 1 (800) 376-7926.
If you have a Regence online account or app, you can log in and find mental health providers, programs, and apps that you know will be in-network for King County employees. Click on the behavioral health page for more information.
Quartet
Regence members have access to Quartet, a service that connects you to the mental health care that’s right for you. Whether it’s therapy, psychiatry, or other care options, visit: qrt.care/kingcounty and Quartet will match you to mental health care that fits your needs. No referral is needed, and Quartet’s platform and services are free for you to use.
When you contact Quartet, their Care Navigators will verify your insurance and ask a few questions about you and your needs. Then, a matched provider will reach out to you to set up an appointment. If, after your first appointment, the provider doesn’t feel like a good fit, just let Quartet know and they’ll match you to another. Quartet’s Care Navigators are available every step of the way to help you understand your options. Quartet’s services are for members ages 18 or older.
Dr. on Demand
Regence members can schedule video therapy sessions with mental health providers including psychologists and psychiatrists via your computer or smartphone. With Dr. on Demand, you’ll get a menu of providers that show the provider’s specialty, photo, care philosophy and more. You can make appointments in advance and can see the same therapist for repeat visits. Plus, the service is free. To get started, have your insurance card handy and visit www.drondemand.com.
Making Life Easier
Making Life Easier (MLE) is available to all King County employees, offering a referral to a therapist and coverage for eight free sessions per topic per year. Many therapists also contract with the Regence and Kaiser Permanente Health Plans so MLE can make a referral for you to a therapist who is also in your health plan network. In that way, if you need more than eight sessions, your health plan benefits will cover your therapy sessions starting with the ninth visit.
Making Life Easier Program Includes:
- Personal counseling
- Legal and financial services
- Childcare services
- Adult and elder care services
Making Life Easier is available to all King County employees, as well as everyone who shares their address, including family and roommates. Access the program here with user name: King County or call 1-888-874-7290.
View more mental health resources for King County employees here.
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