Is Carelon the same as Beacon Health Options?

Yes. Beacon Health Options became Carelon Behavioral Health in 2023. Benefits under a Beacon card generally carry over under the Carelon name.

Is Carelon part of Anthem?

Carelon is part of Elevance Health, the parent company of Anthem. Carelon managing your behavioral health doesn't by itself mean your plan is an Anthem plan.

Can I use my Carelon plan at Anchored Tides?

Anchored Tides works with Carelon-managed plans as an out-of-network provider. Verification confirms your plan's out-of-network benefits and your cost.

Does Carelon require authorization for PHP or IOP?

Higher levels of care usually need authorization. The admissions team requests it from Carelon on your behalf.

My medical plan and my mental health plan have different names. Is that normal?

Yes. Many plans carve out behavioral health to a specialist manager such as Carelon. Share both cards during verification.

Is verification confidential?

Yes. Verification is confidential, free, and creates no obligation.

Insurance & Coverage6 min read

Carelon Behavioral Health Coverage for Women's Addiction and Mental Health Treatment

TL;DR

Carelon Behavioral Health, formerly Beacon Health Options, is the Elevance Health company that manages mental health and substance use benefits for health plans, employers and government programs. If Carelon appears on your card for behavioral health, it handles authorizations and claims for that part of your coverage. Anchored Tides Recovery works with Carelon-managed plans as an out-of-network provider for women's outpatient treatment in Huntington Beach, California.

Anchored Tides Clinical Team · Reviewed by Zoe Tambling, LMFT · Published September 17, 2026

Published September 17, 2026Last reviewed: September 17, 2026

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“ATR has been a wonderful organization to work with. I've partnered with them on many occasions on behalf of my own clients. They're trustworthy, ethical and provide excellent clinical care to the women they serve.”

Maddie JohnsonJuly 2024

“Anchored Tides helped me save my life. The staff strike the perfect balance between understanding and accountability. I was fortunate to work with an amazing therapist, to whom I will be forever grateful. The groups were eye opening and helped me change my perspectives. Operations staff was and still is an integral part of my recovery. I feel so blessed to have come through this program. Thank you Anchored Tides”

B KaufmanAugust 2026

Excerpt from a public Google review

“As a father, there are no words that can fully express what Anchored Tides Recovery has meant to our family. My daughter went there at a time when we were terrified of what the future might hold. Addiction had taken so much from her, and as her dad, all I wanted was to see my daughter get her life back. Anchored Tides gave her that chance.”

Mike HAugust 2026

Excerpt from a public Google review

“Thank you Anchored Tides! Thank you for not giving up on me and for teaching me what it means to be a sober woman in recovery. The experience and skills that were provided to me have changed my life and I continue to utilize the skills today. The individualized treatment and support was what set you guys apart from the other programs I had tried (and there were a lot, LOL).”

Neely WeirJuly 2024

“The owners, Amy and Becca, are professional, knowledgeable and dedicated to their clients. The structure they provide at ATR is remarkable and covers many disciplines which are integral in a high recovery success rate. The personal experiences they have both lived and grown from serve as an important foundation for understanding and inspiring the women they work with.”

Lindsay OrtegaJanuary 2021

Excerpt from a public Google review

“What an amazing place Anchored Tides is. As Amy explained when we first visited, girls and women are an afterthought in many treatment programs, which often are founded and structured for boys and men. Anchored Tides' holistic approach to ALL of the co-existing issues that girls and women face is groundbreaking, and so appreciated.”

Erika BlumAugust 2018

Read all reviews on Google Call (866) 329-6639

If your insurance card or benefits letter names Carelon Behavioral Health for mental health and substance use care, your behavioral health benefits are managed separately from your medical coverage. You may know Carelon by its former name, Beacon Health Options. Anchored Tides Recovery works with Carelon-managed plans for women's outpatient treatment, and the admissions team verifies your benefits at no cost. Comparing plans? See all of our addiction treatment insurance guides.

Key Takeaways

1
Carelon Behavioral Health is the current name of Beacon Health Options.
2
Carelon is part of Elevance Health, the parent company of Anthem.
3
Carelon manages behavioral health benefits; your plan sets what's covered.
4
Carelon administers The Empire Plan's Mental Health and Substance Use Program for NYSHIP.
5
Anchored Tides works with Carelon-managed plans as an out-of-network provider.

A woman reviewing documents at her laptop

About Carelon Behavioral Health

Anthem, now Elevance Health, acquired Beacon Health Options in 2020, and the company took the Carelon Behavioral Health name in 2023. Carelon manages behavioral health benefits for national and regional health plans, large employers and government programs.

When a plan hands its behavioral health benefits to Carelon, the arrangement is often called a carve-out. Your medical claims go to one company and your mental health and substance use claims go to Carelon.

Where You Might See Carelon

Employer plans that use Carelon for behavioral health
Health plans that carve out mental health and substance use care to Carelon
NYSHIP: Carelon administers The Empire Plan's Mental Health and Substance Use Program. See our NYSHIP coverage guide.
Older cards and letters may still say Beacon Health Options

What Carelon-Managed Plans Typically Cover

Your plan sets the benefits, so coverage varies. Most employer health plans must follow federal mental health parity law, which means behavioral health coverage must be comparable to medical and surgical coverage. Most Carelon-managed plans include:

Outpatient mental health and substance use treatment
Partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) programs, usually with authorization
Evidence-based therapies such as EMDR, DBT and CBT
Treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions

Verification provides the specifics for your plan.

What Affects Your Out-of-Pocket Cost

Your plan's out-of-network benefits
Deductible status: what you've paid this year
Coinsurance percentage
Out-of-pocket maximum
Authorization requirements through Carelon
The level of care: PHP, IOP and OP cost differently

How Verification Works

Submit the Verify Insurance form or call (866) 329-6639 with your member ID, group number and the behavioral health phone number on your card.
Within 1 to 3 business days, the admissions team verifies benefits with Carelon and confirms what your plan covers.
You receive plain-language results explaining what's covered and what your out-of-pocket cost would be.

Verification is free and creates no obligation.

What Anchored Tides Provides

Anchored Tides Recovery is a women's-only outpatient program in Huntington Beach, California, JCAHO accredited, California DHCS License #300386AP, led by Clinical Director Sara Rotunno, LPCC. The clinical model centers on EMDR (foundational), DBT, and CBT, with holistic adjuncts including mindfulness, Adventure Therapy, Reiki, Sound Healing, and Registered Dietitian support. Three outpatient levels of care on-site (PHP, IOP, OP), plus a dedicated Mental Health track.

Frequently asked questions

Is Carelon the same as Beacon Health Options?
Yes. Beacon Health Options became Carelon Behavioral Health in 2023. Benefits under a Beacon card generally carry over under the Carelon name.
Is Carelon part of Anthem?
Carelon is part of Elevance Health, the parent company of Anthem. Carelon managing your behavioral health doesn't by itself mean your plan is an Anthem plan.
Can I use my Carelon plan at Anchored Tides?
Anchored Tides works with Carelon-managed plans as an out-of-network provider. Verification confirms your plan's out-of-network benefits and your cost.
Does Carelon require authorization for PHP or IOP?
Higher levels of care usually need authorization. The admissions team requests it from Carelon on your behalf.
My medical plan and my mental health plan have different names. Is that normal?
Yes. Many plans carve out behavioral health to a specialist manager such as Carelon. Share both cards during verification.
Is verification confidential?
Yes. Verification is confidential, free, and creates no obligation.

Evidence & accountability

Sources and clinical review

This page was reviewed by Zoe Tambling, LMFT on 2026-09-17. The references below informed the specific topics noted with each citation.

NYSHIP 2026 At a Glance for Participating AgenciesNew York State Department of Civil ServiceSupports: Carelon as administrator of The Empire Plan Mental Health and Substance Use Program.
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity ActCenters for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesSupports: federal parity requirements for covered behavioral health benefits.

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Call (866) 329-6639 or verify your insurance, confidential, no obligation. Women-only environment, Joint Commission accredited.

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Carelon Behavioral Health Coverage for Women's Addiction and Mental Health Treatment

Key Takeaways

About Carelon Behavioral Health

Where You Might See Carelon

What Carelon-Managed Plans Typically Cover

What Affects Your Out-of-Pocket Cost

How Verification Works

What Anchored Tides Provides

Frequently asked questions

Sources and clinical review

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