What's the difference between BCBS PPO/Blue Choice plans and the BCBS HMO plan?

PPO and Blue Choice plans generally allow more flexibility in choosing providers and may offer out-of-network benefits. The BCBS HMO plan (the Health Alliance replacement) does not include out-of-network benefits, which means we're unable to bill it at all, regardless of circumstances. Your insurance card or member portal will indicate which type of plan you have — if you're unsure, member services can confirm.

How do I know if I have the BCBS HMO plan?

Check your insurance card or online member portal, or call the member services number on your card and ask directly whether your plan is an HMO. If you're still unsure, you can schedule your appointment and submit your insurance details through the patient portal — we'll verify before your visit.

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield require a referral or prior authorization?

For the Open Access Plan (OAP) under the BlueChoice Options Network, no referral is required. Some services may require prior authorization, though we have not encountered this requirement for outpatient mental health/therapy sessions specifically. Requirements can vary by specific plan, so we recommend confirming with member services as well.

What if my plan changes mid-year?

Benefits can change at renewal or when employers update plan design. If anything changes, submit your updated insurance information through the patient portal and we'll re-verify.

Will my employer find out I'm in therapy?

Employers do not receive therapy notes or session details from us. Claims are processed through your health plan/administrator under privacy rules. If you have privacy concerns, we can talk through options, including private pay.

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Therapists Accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield in Champaign-Urbana

Using Blue Cross Blue Shield for therapy? This page explains how your benefits typically work, which BCBS plans we're in-network with, and what to expect for cost — so you can get started with confidence.

Check My BCBS Benefits

Please check your plan before scheduling

We are in-network with the following Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois plans:

BCBS PPO
Blue Choice Options (BCO)
Blue Choice PPO Preferred (BCE)
Professional Blue Choice PPO (BCS)

We are not in-network with the BCBS HMO plan (marketed as a Health Alliance replacement). Because it's an HMO, out-of-network benefits aren't available, and we're unable to bill this plan for services.

Not sure which plan you have? Check your insurance card or member portal, or give us a call at — 217-203-2008 — we're happy to help you figure it out before you schedule.

Using Blue Cross Blue Shield at Champaign Counseling

If your insurance is through Blue Cross Blue Shield, this page explains exactly how to check your coverage and get scheduled.

Get Help Today

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois offers several different plan types, and your card may not always make it obvious which one you have. We're in-network with the PPO, Blue Choice Options, Blue Choice PPO Preferred, and Professional Blue Choice PPO plans — but not the BCBS HMO plan.

We often see clients whose coverage comes through the State of Illinois Group Insurance Program, which includes University of Illinois employees along with other state universities, community colleges, and state agency staff throughout the region. Most of these clients are enrolled in the Open Access Plan (OAP) under the BlueChoice Options Network, which is in-network with us. (The State's insurance menu also includes HMO and other plan options — if you're a state employee, it's still worth confirming your specific plan type before scheduling.)

We also see clients whose employers include:

University of Illinois (State of Illinois Group Insurance / OAP–BlueChoice Options)
Urbana School District 116
Champaign County (county government employees)
Caterpillar (BCBS-administered PPO network — plan names can vary, so please confirm your specific network)

If your employer isn't listed here, that doesn't mean we can't see you — it just means we haven't confirmed the specific plan details yet. Submit your insurance information through the patient portal after scheduling, and we'll verify your benefits directly.

Many people using employer-sponsored benefits reach out when they are dealing with:

Burnout and Compassion fatigue
Anxiety, Stress, and Feeling Overwhelmed
Parenting Stress
Life Transitions and Adjustment
Relationships and Communication

How It Works

Step 1: Schedule Your First Appointment

Start by clicking “Get Started with BCBS”
Step 2: Set Up Your Patient Portal

After scheduling, you will receive a welcome email with portal setup instructions.
Step 3: Upload Your Insurance Card

Your intake packet includes an insurance form with instructions for securely uploading your card.
Step 4: We Verify Your Benefits

Our office manager contacts your plan to confirm network status and outpatient mental health benefits.
Step 5: You Receive a Cost Estimate

When submitted at least 24 business hours before your first session, we’ll send a summary of what your plan reports.

Get Started with BCBS

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We know the cost side of therapy can feel stressful

After you schedule, we'll walk you through submitting your insurance information securely through the patient portal so we can verify benefits and help you understand what to expect financially.

Why we recommend double-checking your benefits

We verify benefits as a courtesy, but occasionally different insurance representatives provide different information. We recommend you also call the member services number on your card to double-check your benefits and reduce surprises.

What to ask when you call member services

"Which BCBS network is my plan in — PPO, Blue Choice Options, HMO, or something else?"
"Is Champaign Counseling in-network for my plan?"
"What is my copay or coinsurance for outpatient mental health/psychotherapy?"
"Does my deductible apply? What is my deductible and how much is remaining?"
"Is a referral or prior authorization required?"

Check My BCBS Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — we're in-network with BCBS PPO, Blue Choice Options, Blue Choice PPO Preferred, and Professional Blue Choice PPO plans. We are not in-network with the BCBS HMO plan (marketed as a Health Alliance replacement); because it's an HMO, no out-of-network benefits are available, so we're unable to bill this plan.
PPO and Blue Choice plans generally allow more flexibility in choosing providers and may offer out-of-network benefits. The BCBS HMO plan (the Health Alliance replacement) does not include out-of-network benefits, which means we're unable to bill it at all, regardless of circumstances. Your insurance card or member portal will indicate which type of plan you have — if you're unsure, member services can confirm.
Check your insurance card or online member portal, or call the member services number on your card and ask directly whether your plan is an HMO. If you're still unsure, you can schedule your appointment and submit your insurance details through the patient portal — we'll verify before your visit.
For the Open Access Plan (OAP) under the BlueChoice Options Network, no referral is required. Some services may require prior authorization, though we have not encountered this requirement for outpatient mental health/therapy sessions specifically. Requirements can vary by specific plan, so we recommend confirming with member services as well.
Benefits can change at renewal or when employers update plan design. If anything changes, submit your updated insurance information through the patient portal and we'll re-verify.
Employers do not receive therapy notes or session details from us. Claims are processed through your health plan/administrator under privacy rules. If you have privacy concerns, we can talk through options, including private pay.