Networks change. We verify your specific WellMed plan before your first visit; call with your member ID and we will confirm benefits, copay and any referral or authorization requirements.
Also appears on cards as: WellMed Medical Management, WellMed (UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage), UHC WellMed, WellMed Network. Offered in Florida.
WellMed is not an insurance company. It is a physician group and medical management organization owned by Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group, that coordinates care for Medicare Advantage members across Florida and Texas. If your card shows the WellMed name alongside a UnitedHealthcare, AARP or other Medicare Advantage logo, your plan has delegated your primary care and referral management to WellMed, and your primary care physician belongs to the WellMed network. WellMed-managed plans cover outpatient psychiatry, medication management and psychotherapy under the underlying Medicare Advantage plan's mental health copay, typically with no deductible. Many WellMed-managed plans are HMO designs, and while most do not require a referral for behavioral health, some do, which we check before your first visit.
Telehealth mental health visits from home are typically covered at the same copay as office visits for members located in Florida during the appointment. For Deep TMS and Spravato, authorization typically runs through WellMed's utilization management team or through Optum Behavioral Health, depending on how your plan delegates behavioral health, and both apply Medicare's criteria: major depressive disorder with failure of at least two antidepressants and a psychotherapy trial for TMS, and treatment-resistant depression with a concurrent oral antidepressant and REMS-certified administration for Spravato. Prior authorization is required on most plans, and your WellMed primary care physician may need to initiate or acknowledge the referral. Our staff identify the correct authorizing party from your card and coordinate with your WellMed office.
What we check before your visit
- Whether your plan is in network at the office you chose and for telehealth
- Your copay or coinsurance for an evaluation and for follow-ups
- Whether a primary-care referral is required (common with HMO plans)
- Prior-authorization criteria for Deep TMS and Spravato, if those are being considered
Frequently asked questions
My card says WellMed. Does Stedfast Psychiatry accept it?
WellMed is a care network, not an insurer, so acceptance depends on the Medicare Advantage plan behind it, most often UnitedHealthcare or AARP Medicare Advantage. Stedfast Psychiatry accepts many of these plans at our Florida offices. Give our front desk your full card details and we will confirm the plan, the network and whether a referral is needed.
Do I need a referral from my WellMed doctor to see a psychiatrist?
It depends on your plan. Most Medicare Advantage plans managed by WellMed allow direct access to in-network behavioral health, but some HMO designs require a referral from your WellMed primary care physician. We check this when we verify your eligibility, and if one is needed, your WellMed office can usually send it electronically within a day.
What will I pay for a psychiatry visit on a WellMed-managed plan?
Your cost share comes from the underlying Medicare Advantage plan, not from WellMed. Most plans charge a fixed copay for outpatient mental health visits with no deductible, and dual-eligible members typically pay nothing. Telehealth visits usually carry the same copay. Your evidence of coverage lists the amount, and our staff can confirm it.
How is Deep TMS or Spravato authorized when WellMed manages my care?
Authorization typically goes through WellMed's utilization management team or Optum Behavioral Health, depending on how your plan delegates behavioral health, and both apply Medicare's criteria for treatment-resistant depression. Your WellMed primary care physician may need to acknowledge the referral. Our team identifies the right path from your card and coordinates the paperwork.