Private Insurances Billing Guides for Therapists and Psychiatrists
Every one of the private insurances has its own payer ID, claims route, deadlines and behavioral health rules. Pick the payer on the member card, then follow its guide.
Before you submit to a private payer
- Verify eligibility on the first session day
- Confirm the payer ID on the payer site
- Confirm the claims and appeals address
- Confirm timely filing in your contract
Choose a payer: private insurances billing guides
Private insurances billing guides explain how each commercial payer wants mental health claims submitted: payer ID, claims routing, appeal rules and behavioral health quirks.
Cigna and Evernorth payer ID
The payer ID for Cigna, Cigna Behavioral Health and Evernorth is 62308. MCM South confirmed this ID. Still match it to your clearinghouse payer list before the first claim, because a wrong ID causes rejections. We list only IDs we can confirm on an official source. For other payers, check the payer provider site, your clearinghouse list, or the insurance companies contact directory.
How to read these guides
Private payer, Medicare, Medicaid and state law are labeled separately because they often conflict. Rules vary by state, and we never apply one state rule to another. This is operational guidance, not legal advice. For real financial or legal exposure, talk to your attorney or compliance officer.
Private insurances vs Medicare and Medicaid
Private insurances write their own rules in your contract and provider manual. Medicare and Medicaid follow federal and state rules instead, and they often conflict with a commercial plan on timely filing, appeals and telehealth. When a denial arrives, start with the claim denials and appeals guide. For network status and contracts, see credentialing and network status and in-network vs out-of-network credentialing.
What to check before you submit to a private payer
Monday morning habit: pick the payers you billed most last week and recheck these four items.
- Verify eligibility. Check on the day of the first session and again whenever coverage might change, in Availity or the payer portal.
- Confirm the payer ID. Use the payer own provider site or your clearinghouse payer list.
- Confirm the claims address. For paper claims and appeals, start with the insurance companies contact directory, then check the payer site.
- Confirm timely filing. It varies by payer and plan, so read it in your contract.
Psychotherapists and psychiatrists bill differently
Psychotherapists bill psychotherapy codes by session length (see individual psychotherapy CPT codes). Psychiatrists and other prescribers usually bill an evaluation and management (E/M) visit, sometimes with a psychotherapy add-on code. Private insurances may handle each differently, so check the CPT and E/M code guide before you send a claim.
Not sure where to start? Look at the card: the payer name, the three-character prefix on a Blue card and the plan name tell you which guide applies. The short version: for private insurances billing, match the card to the guide, confirm four facts, then submit. Get a free quote if you want MCM South to handle it.