Behavioral_Health_Therapy

Member Newsletter

Qualified Health Plans

Get to know your behavioral health benefits

WellSense is dedicated to helping our members live their best lives, and that includes supporting you with any behavioral health (BH) needs. Your BH coverage includes mental health (like grief counselling and therapy to help with stress), substance use and addiction services.

WellSense provides BH services through Carelon Behavioral Health. Carelon has providers conveniently located throughout Massachusetts and the rest of the US. Most BH services are available automatically through self-referral. This means you do not have to get prior approval to visit a BH provider in Carelon’s network.

If you or a family member are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, the New Hampshire Behavioral Health Help Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Anyone can contact the Help Line. Call toll-free or text 833-773-2445 (TTY: 711) for immediate help.

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To find a behavioral health provider:
  1. Visit carelonbehavioralhealth.com
  2. Click on “Find a Provider” at the top of the page
  3. Type your WellSense Health Plan’s 
    name in the box shown
  4. Search for a specific provider, or 
    enter your ZIP code to find one 
    near you

    Or call Carelon at 877-957-5600 (TTY: 711) for help finding a provider or to ask any questions about your BH benefits

Stay healthy and safe this summer

Now that summer is here, it’s time to get outside and enjoy the warm, sunny weather. Keep these tips in mind to stay healthy when doing so.

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Stay cool and hydrated
Too much heat can be dangerous. Young children, adults 65 and older, people who are overweight and people with certain other health issues are at the highest risk. Protect yourself by staying cool and informed about heat advisories. Drink plenty of water and wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. Find air conditioning during hot hours, like at shopping centers or a public library. If you don’t have access to air conditioning, a cool shower or bath can help you cool off better than a fan. Be careful of physical activities, including any work or exercise, during warm hours.
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Protect your skin
While the sun often feels great, unprotected skin can burn in just a few minutes. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen rated SPF 15 or higher on exposed skin will help protect you when spending time in the sun. Look for “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on sunscreen labels to get the best protection. Don’t forget to wear sunglasses with UV protection—not all have it.

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Keep kids safe

Some popular summer activities for kids call for additional precautions on top of the ones above. Always make sure your child is wearing a helmet when riding a bike or scooter, wearing roller skates or doing other activities where falls are a risk. Always supervise children closely while they swim and remember that foam or inflatable pool toys are no substitute for a life jacket.

Don't get scammed

Are you being asked to pay for healthcare that is actually covered by your insurance? Has someone called you asking you to pay for services like changing your insurance or updating your address? These may be scams. Call 888-411-4959 to report them, and visit wellsense.org/footer/fraud-waste-and-abuse for more information.

Avoid the wait: Getting care faster than at the ER

Injuries and illnesses can happen at any time. While a walk-in visit to the emergency room (ER) may often feel like the easiest solution, ERs often take much longer to treat conditions that could be handled more quickly for you somewhere else. 

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  • Preventive services
  • Fluoride treatments for members of all ages
  •  Dental sealants for members younger than 21
  • Pain relief and treatment of infections 
  • Fillings and crowns
  • Root canal treatment
Your PCP
For most nonemergency conditions, your primary care provider (PCP) should be your first resource. Your PCP is the provider you generally see for your annual wellness visit. They know your health the best and can help you get specialist care quickly if you need it. If your PCP isn’t available, you can also try to see another provider in their office or schedule a telehealth visit, which will often be faster. 
Urgent Care
If no one at your PCP’s office is available to see you quickly, an urgent care clinic should be able to make an appointment for you within 24 hours, and walk-in urgent care wait times are usually shorter than at the ER. If your PCP belongs to a larger healthcare system, you may even be able to go to an affiliated urgent care clinic. Urgent cares can handle most nonemergency illnesses and injuries. 
Emergency Room
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, you should always call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
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Questions about a non-emergency health concern or need afterhours care? Call our 24/7 nurse advice line at 866-763-4695.

Is care management right for you?

WellSense offers our free Care Management Program to help members
with conditions like asthma, diabetes or other special health needs. Qualifying
members receive personalized care management from a nurse or social
worker. The care manager can help manage your healthcare needs with
special attention to your condition(s).

  • Helping you understand and manage your specific disease(s) or condition(s)
  • Helping you access essential services, including housing, food and transportation
  • Having regular check-ins over the phone regarding your health and your needs
  • Coordinating your care with your doctors, other healthcare providers and community partners

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Check if you qualify
You may qualify for care management based on the results of a short care needs screening. You can complete the screening online in our member portal. First time users will need their ID number from their WellSense ID card to create an account by clicking on “Member Registration."

Finding the right health information online

When you want to learn more about health-related issues, it’s easy to search online for information. However, it’s important to be careful about the information you trust. Not all information on the internet is true, and incorrect information about your health can be dangerous. Here are some tips to help you find good health information online.

  • Check the source.
    Look for information from reliable sources, such as government agencies, medical associations, hospitals and well-known health organizations. Some examples of good sources include the CDC (cdc.gov), the AAP (aap.org), Boston Medical Center (bmc.org) and the AHA (heart.org).
  • Beware of sensational headlines.
    Some unreliable websites may use interesting headlines just to grab attention. Be especially careful with headlines or websites that promise quick or simple cures. These are often too good to be true.
  • Look out for bias.
    Some websites or blogs may have goals other than keeping you healthy, such as promoting alternative therapies or criticizing conventional medicine. Avoid sites that focus more on their solutions than your health.
  • Be careful with blogs, discussion boards and social media posts.
    These often present a single person’s experience. Just because they say something worked for them doesn’t mean it would work for you.